04 Sep 2021

Government will not extend the State of Public Emergency when its current six month period elapses September 30, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

The pronouncement, made by President Masisi in his address to the nation in Gaborone on Friday, means the  total period of 18 consecutive months of the State of Emergency will end at the end of the month.

The three successive cycles were sanctioned by Parliament each running for six months, the first instituted in April 2020 as the country used the legal instrument to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Masisi also apprised the nation of the progress made in the country’s battle against the pandemic.

"As of August 14, we had 13 380 active cases translating to more than 1 000 cases per day with a positivity rate of 27 per cent. By August 30, active cases had dropped to 5 146 and daily cases halved with a positivity rate at 9 per cent; nearly a threefold decrease,” he said.

He further said there had been a significant decrease in hospital admissions with a 70 per cent decline in patients admitted into COVID-19 treatment facilities.

He also said government had embarked on an exercise to improve the capacity of other hospitals in an endeavour to decongest Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, which has been the main hospital handling COVID-19 cases.

Dr Masisi said government was also working on providing a middle corridor for referral of patients who need a higher level of care. He noted that the capacity for the provision of oxygen concentrators, oxygen plants, and critical care equipment had improved across the country.

“Basic care has also been expanded through the strengthening of community home-based care programmes,” President Masisi said. BOPA