06 Dec 2020

Ramokgwebana Border Post health officials this week sent some visitors with invalid COVID-19 test results back home.

Briefing North East District councillors on December 3, North East District Health Management Team (DHMT) coordinator, Ms Kelebeletse Mokobela stated that a total of 83 people entered Botswana through Ramokgwebana border post on December 1 when the travel ban was lifted.

She said some travellers were Batswana citizens, residents and tourists from Kenya, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, China and Malawi. Ms Mokobela noted that some visitors presented results that had passed the 72-hour validity period, hence they were denied entry. 

She highlighted that some visitors who were denied entry had presented non authentic results with a lot of errors that raised suspicions. 

The DHMT coordinator stated that some travellers were in possession of test results written in French and Portuguese, further explaining that the standard procedure required that when one was travelling to an English speaking country, results should be in the same official language. 

The coordinator said port health officers used their discretion to examine the authenticity of the receipts from the laboratory in order to iron out any anomalies.

She cited that some of the test results produced bore old dates from years back; while some had wrong names and dates of birth, contrary to the information on passports. 

Ms Mokobela indicated that in an instance where a client would present authentic results but presented any symptoms, they would conduct a test on the suspect for assurance.

She highlighted that Batswana citizens and residents who did not furnish officers with results were tested at the entry point and placed in a mandatory quarantine.

Ms Mokobela further noted that the 72-hour validity period was counted from the time when the test was conducted.

Moreover, she said they observed that truck drivers still travelled  without results with the expectation of a test at the border. 

She said they were, however, encouraged to conduct own tests before embarking on trips.

All travellers who wish to travel outside Botswana should go to private labs for COVID-19 tests, said Ms Mokobela. 

In response to the DHMT presentation, councillors unanimously held the view that it was highly probable that some visitors would take advantage of the lifting of the travel ban by Botswana government and fake results in order to enter Botswana.

The councillors thanked DHMT for paying due diligence in scrutinising the results, adding that the port health officers should remain resolute, more especially during the Christmas holidays when travellers come in large numbers. Ends