14 Jul 2021

As part of state measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will close tomorrow and reopen on August 17, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has announced.

Addressing the nation on Botswana Television (Btv) on Tuesday night, President Masisi revealed that the closure of schools was part of decisions taken by government in light of the escalating spread of the virus.

He said the suspension of trade in alcohol and the national curfew period would continue as it had been, with movement restricted from 10pm to 4am daily.

He urged the nation to continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including after receiving vaccine, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) having reported that the third wave of COVID-19 infection in Africa was rising exponentially.

“The relentless attack of the COVID-19 pandemic on our country and the rest of Africa has pushed both our human and financial resources to the limit, particularly, as a result of the continued emergence of new and more transmissible variants, which are more contagious, the Delta variant being the latest,” Dr Masisi said.

He noted the recent concern raised by WHO that in the week ending July 4, Africa experienced its worst number of new cases for a week, with over 250 000 new infections detected, a situation compounded by global shortage of vaccines.

Warning that the situation would become worse before it improves, Dr Masisi expressed concern at the worsening COVID-19 condition in Botswana, with 80 154 positive cases, 8 970 active cases and 1 253 deaths as at July 12 - the death toll having increased fourfold from 300 deaths recorded five months earlier in February.

“Therefore we must take individual and collective responsibility to protect ourselves and the entire nation from COVID-19.

We must brace ourselves for the imminent shortage of basic necessities, such as food and fuel, occasioned by disruptions of the supply chain in the region emanating from COVID-19 and its associated impact on the economy,” he said.

He further charged Batswana to rise to the occasion and enhance food security in the country and to pray for an improvement in the COVID-19 situation.

“People with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer are more at risk, and those most affected by these conditions are the elderly.

To this extent, 80 per cent of those who have lost their lives in this country were over 50.  

Our vaccine rollout plan, therefore, prioritises these groups.

Frontliners, including teachers, are as well in the priority list of the vaccination strategy,” Dr Masisi revealed.

He added that as at July 2, over 165 000 citizens and residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine with 108 000 of them fully vaccinated.

“We are expecting to receive 50 000 Mordena vaccines and at least 500 000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines by December.  

Our plan is to have vaccinated every eligible Motswana by the end of 2022,” the President said.

He also outlined the continued government support extended to businesses affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. ENDS