The three patients are part of a group of 10 who travelled to Italy recently. The confirmed cases have hit home and are too close for comfort.
While South Africa seems to possess the right tools and expertise to expedite timely detection and reaction in dealing with this new threat it begs the question whether we at home are ready for action should need arise. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) has repeatedly assured the public that health officials continue to be on high alert. Many Batswana have relatives in South Africa and vice verse, and as such many travel to visit family, attend weddings, funerals and other ceremonial occasions, while others cross the borders to do business. If at all as a nation, we have been taking the coronavirus lightly, now is the time to raise the bar and stay alert. Since the outbreak of the disease, MoHW has been pleading with Batswana not to undertake unnecessary international trips. The Ministry has previously said it is prepared to deal with the crisis, but at what scale? The three confirmed cases in SA have caused a panic amongst some Batswana, as they should, and the nation needs to be updated at all times.
