30 Nov 2021

Ngami District Health Management Team (DHMT) has not yet registered any Omicron variant case. DHMT coordinator, Dr Sandra Maripe-Ebutswe revealed this when updating the district leadership about the outbreak of the new variant at the Maun International Airport to welcome the Commonwealth torch on Monday.

The outbreak, she said called for all members of the community to continue adhering to the existing COVID-19 protocols, while studies were ongoing to better establish the level of severity of the variant.

She stated that preliminary investigations had indicated that the variant was more infectious compared to others and prevention was always key.

Dr Maripe-Ebutswe urged the public to avoid social gatherings where necessary, maintain social distancing and wear well-fitting masks all the time, wash hands regularly and get vaccinated, as COVID-19 was still real.

She pointed out that there were currently 15 positive cases, with one on facility isolation and the rest on home isolation in the district.

She also indicated that a total of 7174 people had been tested at Maun International Airport from April to November 12, of whom 15 tested positive.

Dr Maripe-Ebutswe further revealed that the DHMT experienced a serious shortage of COVID-19 testing kits in October, which hampered surveillance.

With regard to vaccine roll out, she said 40 696 people had been fully vaccinated, while 27 711 had taken their first dose. In the tourism industry, she said they had vaccinated 85 per cent, while at Khoemacau mine, vaccination coverage stood at 65 per cent, with 75 per cent having received the first dose. She said vaccination for the second dose was continuing.

She cited non-compliance to COVID-19 prevention protocols as some of the challenges, and promised to continue engaging the leadership, the community, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, to assist in the control of COVID-19 transmission. ENDS