Coronavirus intervention continues to cause confusion
Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday March 27, 2020 12:14
Meanwhile, Senior partner at the law firm, John Kenneth Carr-Hartley on Wednesday took the government to court pleading for an order directing government to provide segregated, sanitary and hygienic conditions with proper infection control and protection to his daughter Kristin Carr-Hartley and all others in quarantine during the period that they are required to be.
He also sought that government provides means and sustenance to Kristen and others in quarantine according to reasonable dietary requirements under the circumstances. Each party will pay its costs, according to Justice Tebogo Tau’s order.
Mosetlha said their case was not because they did not want anyone to be quarantined, but rather they wanted it done the right way.
“My twin brother, Lesego Mosetlha has been quarantined at the Thamane Junior Secondary School in Tshesebe with effect from 24th March, after having arrived from Zimbabwe by road through Ramokgwebana Border Post same day.
I am advised that from the time of his arrival and even as of last night the persons in quarantine had not been provided with any protective items or equipment such as face masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and the like,” he said.
Mosetlha further stated that those quarantined were not given any food for a long period of time, amongst other distressing issues.
“There has been no soap or even toilet paper. The rooms and ablutions are extremely dirty, and no cleaning materials had been provided, no blankets or proper mattress, Furthermore, there had been no screening prior to quarantine so as to avoid placing together those who might already be infected with COVID- 19 from those who may for now be uninfected. I am further informed that persons are made to share a room and both males and females are made to share toilets and ablution,” he wrote.
He also said they do not contest the right of the Health officials to quarantine persons who are deemed to be a risk to the population of Botswana. He however said it was imperative that the government provides hygienic facilities together with appropriate protective items.
While many who were quarantined in Gaborone decried poor facilities at IHS Gaborone and IDM, it would seem the situation was very bad in the North. As of Thursday morning, a citizen called complaining that over 100 people quarantined in Masunga Senior School were in the state similar to that of Tshesebe.
Chief Public Relations officer at Health Ministry Doreen Motshegwa confirmed their shortcomings. “This is an emergency situation and we continue to monitor the situation and mitigate as issues arise,” Motshegwa said..
She could not state whether they were expecting any hotels to house people in the North as is the case in Gaborone.