20 May 2021

 Mahalapye Sub-district has registered a total of 2 658 COVID-19 cases, 2 498 recoveries and 34 deaths.

Updating the sub-district’s COVID-19 Emergency Operations Committee, Mahalapye District Health Management Team (DHMT) coordinator, Ms Thandie Kgosiesele expressed concern that although the sub-district was experiencing a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, the number of deaths had increased.

Ms Kgosiesele said there were 126 active cases of which 96 were under home isolation, whilst 30 were in facility isolation. 

She said although the sub-district was experiencing a decrease of three to four COVID-19 cases daily as compared to beginning of the year where it used to register about 20 cases per day, it was not out of the woods.   

She thus advised stakeholders to continue to do their best to curb the spread of coronavirus by adhering to the set protocols.

Meanwhile, Ms Kgosiesele said the refurbishment of Mahalapye Hospice, which was the main isolation centre, had been completed.  

Therefore, she said COVID-19 patients who were in isolation at Moko Hospital had been moved to the main isolation centre, though there was still a challenge of shortage of beds. 

Ms Kgosiesele stated that the hospital only admitted those who required constant observation, adding that the team had agreed to be vigilant when assessing who was to be admitted, so that those who did not need constant observation remained under home isolation.

On the COVID-19 vaccination process in the sub-district, she said during the first rollout of the vaccination, the DHMT had managed to vaccinate 2 510 people, 2 158 of which were the elderly aged 75 years and above, 206 health workers operating in critical areas, 17 health workers in private practice, 79 police service officers, 49 from Botswana Prisons Service and one nationality and immigration officer; who qualified by aged.

Furthermore, Ms Kgosiesele said on May 7, the DHMT received the second batch of the COVID-19 vaccines, which is Sinovac, for vaccination of the remaining elderly aged 75 years and above as well as those aged 55 years and above. 

She stated that from May 12, the DHMT had already vaccinated 1 047 people.    

For his part, the acting district deputy district commissioner, Mr Bakani Mathuso expressed concern that the DHMT was still experiencing shortage of transport in rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination. 

Therefore, he appealed to all heads of departments in the sub-district to avail their departments’ vehicles for the exercise, where possible.

The sub-district council chairperson, Mr Bantlhasetse Merementsi, thanked the DHMT for doing its best to rollout vaccination in the sub-district, despite all challenges.  

He called for team work, saying success of the vaccine rollout required concerted efforts.ENDS