18 May 2021

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed that a new COVID-19 variant (B.1.617), first discovered in India, was recorded in Botswana on May 13.

A press release from the ministry says this followed a case investigation within Greater Gaborone involving people of Indian origin who arrived in the country on April 24.

It states that as of May 16, the B. 1. 617 variant was confirmed in two people, adding that the clients were receiving medical care and remain stable with no life-threatening symptoms.

According to the release, the two cases are part of 383 people both Batswana and some Indian nationals who tested for COVID-19.

From this number, the release says 43 tested positive, with two showing the B. 1. 617 variant, adding that contact tracing has been expanded in line with COVID-19 protocols.

It says all contacts and confirmed cases have been evacuated to facility-based quarantine and isolation respectively for close monitoring.

In the wake of this confirmation, the public is further reminded of government intervention to control introduction of new variants of public health concern into the country.

“Those who have travelled or transited through areas of high risk as previously communicated, upon return shall immediately quarantine in a central area to be identified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness for a period not exceeding 10 days, Repeat Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test after seven days of quarantine and be discharged as per the outcome of the results,” says the release.

It states that the requirements are complementary to the mandatory requirements of producing on arrival a negative PCR test not older than 72hrs from the time the sample was collected. ENDS