Two More Suspected Coronavirus Cases
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday March 9, 2020 15:42
Two women were isolated at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital recently upon arrival in Botswana from Dubai and China respectively. The suspected cases follow the first five registered late January, which later on tested negative.
Ministry of Health and Wellness chief public relations officer, Doreen Motshegwa told The Monitor that the suspected cases are under observation while awaiting the results from the regional lab in South Africa.
Motshegwa said at this point, the local public health officials continue to be on high alert particularly at international airports monitoring incoming passengers for signs of the disease.
With neighbouring South Africa confirming three cases of coronavirus this past week, she said the risk is high if people do not reduce some of risky habits such as travelling outside the country and not practising good hygiene.
Commenting on the danger posed by illegal immigrants, Motshegwa said although that is an issue for another government department, they pose risk just like those who travel through gazetted points of entry. Botswana has a high number of Zimbabwean illegal immigrants since the two countries share a border.
“As you know, Batswana are at liberty to go wherever they want, which on its own is risky hence we are continuously saying reconsider travelling if it’s not necessary.
We continue to engage with our stakeholders because the national health is our mandate so it will end up coming back to us,” she said.
She advised Batswana to realise that the decision they make during this period would affect the health system and the country.
“I want to say that all Batswana should practise good health habits. Even when you start coughing at home and going down with flu, just isolate yourself in your room because the symptoms are identical to those of flu so we must do prevention.”
By Sunday afternoon, coronavirus had killed more than 3,500 people around the world, and infected over 105,000, majority in China where the outbreak started.