21 Feb 2021

The Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Setlhomo Lelatisitswe, says 6 198 people were placed on home isolation because government facilities could not deal with the high numbers.

Answering a question in Parliament on Friday, Mr Lelatisitswe said home isolation was for people who tested positive but showed little or no symptoms.

He said the caregivers had been advised to notify the District Health Management Team (DHMT) once symptoms became visible and they would be transferred to government isolation centres.

Mr Lelatisitswe said people on home isolation were required to stay in their rooms and avoid interaction with visitors and keep social distance from their family members. The assistant minister said where bathrooms and toilets were shared, they should be sanitised frequently and the patient should be the last to take a bath.

He said they were supplied with surgical masks and gloves, which should be disposed-off by the health workers.

The assistant health minister said the family and patient should notify the DHMT when 10 days had passed, saying the increasing numbers had made it difficult to micro manage every patient.

He further said he understood the challenges some families were facing especially those who shared bedrooms.

Another challenge was that people in isolation frequently left their dwelling places, adding they were to work with councils to ensure the patients were provided with food and other necessities.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the patients faced stigma and discrimination and appealed to Batswana to fully support them.

Patients in home isolation were  provided with counseling services.

Bobonong legislator, Mr Taolo Lucas had asked the minister to state the number of COVID-19 patients placed on home isolation and protocols in place for such patients.

He further asked the minister to state the efficacy and challenges and nature of support accorded to the patients. MP Lucas also wanted to know if psychosocial support was provided and the lessons learnt so far.ENDS