08 Jul 2021

Head of preventive services at the Chobe District Health Management Team (DHMT), Dr Clement Mukadi, has expressed concern over the increasing number of COVID -19 cases in Chobe.

In an interview on Wednesday, Dr Mukadi said the district had 2 030 active cases as at July 5 and had thus far recorded 13 deaths.

He noted that the highest number of 394 cases was registered on July 2. 

This time around, he said, all age groups were affected. Dr Mukadi said  even the death statistics cut across all age groups.

He further said ever since the first case was registered in the district, Satau was the only village spared, but this time it had also been affected.

Dr Mukadi said due to the rising numbers of cases, some patients were isolated at homes since the centres were limited in terms of capacity.

He stated that factors such as movement, non-compliance of COVID-19 protocols and winter whereby people were deterred from frequently washing their hands could have influenced the surge.

He thanked the District Emergency Operating Centre (DEOC) efforts in coming up with mitigation measures explaining that through the committee, six guest houses with a bedding capacity of 50 beds were identified to augment the space at the isolation centres.

Dr Mukadi said the committee further sourced seven vehicles that were used for contact tracing from government departments and other stakeholders. 

He said the committee was working on mobilising community structures for prevention messages and monitoring of those on home isolation and quarantine.

Dr Mukadi said other measures included the on-going public announcement that sensitise people on COVID-19 protocols. 

He said the isolation centre based at Education Centre had been converted to a high care centre. Furthermore, he indicated that officers from various departments in the district had trained as contact tracers as way of speeding the contact tracing process.

On the vaccination exercise, Dr Mukadi said by the end of this week the last batch of over 55 years old category would be given the last dose as 647 of this group had not yet received their second dose. He said a total of 1174 were fully vaccinated..

Dr Mukadi said on July 12 the district would start vaccinating the 30 year olds and above but he indicated that the doses were limited. ends