15 Dec 2020

With COVID-19 cases still on the rise, the public has been advised to avoid unnecessary inter-zonal movement during the festive season.

Giving an update on the  pandemic on Monday, presidential COVID-19 task team deputy coordinator, Professor Mosepele Mosepele said 372 new positive cases and one death, bringing the total to 38, had been recorded December 8-11

Some 349 were locals while 23 were recorded at border gates, he said.

Prof Mosepele said patients in critical condition were at Sir Ketumile Masire Hospital while those with minor symptoms were either on isolation at designated areas or on self-isolation at home.

He said Gaborone and Lobatse had recorded the highest numbers of confirmed positive cases. 

He therefore advised the public to minimize inter-zonal movements to avoid spreading the virus to other parts of the country.

On permits, he said issuance would be minimized but advised those with the dire need to travel to follow COVID-19 safety measures.

Prof Mosepele urged those who would have travelled to self-isolate upon arrival and adhere to stipulated protocols.

He expressed concern about failure by some to use the face mask properly saying it was one of the contributing factors to the surge in coronavirus cases.

He said public education to sensitize people about the pandemic would continue considering that some were still in denial while others perceived it as a common cold.ends