Minister pleads for adherence

…as country records two more Coronavirus cases

Limpho Maqolo

Health Minister Motlatsi Maqelepo has pleaded with the nation to continue observing Public Health Regulations 2020 in the wake of the country’s record of two new cases of SARSCOV-2 (Covid-19) this week.

The ministry pleads with the public to calm down, be vigilant and maintain safety protocols to minimise the spread of the coronavirus; that is to wash hands with soap and water, observe coughing and sneezing etiquette, follow quarantine measures and adhere to the set terms of the lockdown and reduce the possible spread of the disease.

He continued; As the ministry, we plan to implement a new strategy where we will work in collaboration with chiefs to shape our messaging on how best we can protect the public and minimise the spread of the pandemic.

In detailing events leading to the discovering of the two patients, Maqelepo indicated that they both came from the neighbouring South Africa.

The two new cases are individuals who live in Qachas Nek; having travelled from Cape Town, South Africa on 23 May 2020. They used different routes, one had arrived through the Tele Bridge, Quthing, while another crossed into the country illegally in the same district

After being attended to by Qachas Neks District Health Management Team (DHMT), the patient was then transferred to Quthing. The second individual was found in Qachas Nek after residents alerted the ministry of health about their suspicions.

The minister further indicated that the duo are kept in isolation and being treated and procedures to determine people that could have come in contact with the cases are still underway.

At least 1515 specimens for testing have been taken for testing at National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa until now.

The 421 samples were received by the ministry June 1 after they were sent to NICD in May 29, 2020. The remaining 419 samples were confirmed negative from the infection.

Out of the four cases, two have recovered while deaths have not been recorded.