03 May 2021

Despite starting the COVID-19 fight with limited resources, the presidential COVID-19 taskforce has applauded all stakeholders for a resolute display in dealing with the pandemic. 

Updating the nation on Sunday, presidential COVID-19 taskforce coordinator, Dr Kereng Masupu said although the pandemic struck without warning, government, together with stakeholders and the community, were brave in tackling an unknown and devious enemy with limited health facilities at their disposal.

Having registered its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, the country has to date recorded 48 411 positive cases of which 44 960 were recoveries while 1 262 were active cases and 712 deaths. Since the arrival of the vaccines, 48 411 people have been inoculated.  

However, despite the limited health resources, Dr Masupu said the legislature played its role in coming up with measures that were put in place to contain the pandemic. “We saw the government establishing a presidential taskforce to coordinate the fight against the pandemic followed by the first state of emergency in April 2020 and other measures that were to constrict the movement of people,” he said.

Dr Masupu also added that the country relied on neighbouring South Africa to detect the virus. He said since individuals suspected to have contacted the coronavirus were to be isolated, the first isolation centre was established at Block 8 Clinic followed by Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital and many others spread across the country.

Dr Masupu also noted that measures were put in place to monitor the pandemic. He said the measures did not only restrict movement, but that the business community was equally affected as it meant the closure of their businesses. 

“Measures such as lockdowns restricted people within their households, therefore, some needed immediate attention in terms of providing food rations as they depended on piece jobs to put food on the table,” he said.

Dr Masupu observed that health protocols used in containing the pandemic had had some repercussions on life as some business were yet to recover from the effects of the pandemic. He, however, said although restrictions were relaxed in an effort to open up the economy, it had been observed that some activities and holidays were super-spreaders of the virus.  He said the community must bear in mind that even though some measures interfered with their freedom, the intention was not to punish them but rather to contain the pandemic.

“We have observed that after the holidays such as President Day, Independence Day and Festive Season there was an increase in COVID-19 cases hence the introduction of curfew to restrict movement of people at night,” he said. 

He said despite the efforts the virus continued to spread which saw the need to continue with the restrictions to contain the pandemic. Dr Masupu said since the pandemic did not have a cure it was better to intensify preventative measures. He said although vaccinations had commenced, it was vital to continue with preventative measures. 

  Meanwhile, director of Public Health Services, Dr Malebogo Kebabonye said responding to the pandemic also needed an enabling legal framework. She said safeguarding the health of citizens was a priority in fighting the pandemic. She said some diseases such as COVID-19 were not restricted by boundaries and that it was important for countries to work in synergy by coming up with legislations that complemented each other’s efforts. Dr Kebabonye said since the outbreak of the pandemic, the country has passed 27 bills focused on protecting the health of citizens, working hand in hand with the development agenda and resuscitating the economy. 

“We have observed that some of the health protocols put in place to contain the pandemic impacted negatively on the economic and the normal lifestyle and therefore we are gradually reviewing the measures to strike a balance,” said Dr Kebabonye. 

However, she stressed the importance of focusing on preventative measures as containing the virus would pave the way for other activities to open up. “The statutory instruments put in place are aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of movement permits is critical in containing and monitoring the disease. We are equally concerned by how your livelihoods are affected. It is vital to safeguard your health and that of others,” she said.ENDS