COVID-19 ravages Tlokweng

Tlokweng community leaders have expressed concern over the rate at which COVID-19 cases are rising in the village as 180 cases were recorded last week.

Briefing Councillors on Tuesday, Health Promotion Officer in the Department of Health and Management Team (DHMT), Ikko Sebilo said the village is leading the pack in the number of COVID-19 cases. He revealed that as of week 46 which ended last week Friday (20 November) 180 positive cases were recorded at Mafitlhakgosi clinic which is one of COVID-19 clusters in Greater Gaborone zone.

To that end, Councillors said the situation is set to worsen in the village as the lifting of travel across the borders is anticipated to resume at the ever busy Tlokweng border.

Sefoke ward Councillor Lesego Molefhe taunted the home quarantine approach for people who are suspected to be positive urging government to change the approach as it very troublesome. She said if people are not under mandatory quarantine tend to be reckless as they meet with the community hence this could be the reasons why Tlokweng continues to record lot of cases.

“Tlokweng is a big center located to capital Gaborone and it has lot of people movement. If the cases reported in the village are so high then we risk to be a hotspot for the virus,” she whined.

Metlhabeng Councillor Letlhogonolo Kgaswane took swipe to slow response to attending the people who tested positive at homes by health authorities adding that it poses risk of spread.

Kgaswane bemoaned that people takes few days without being relocated to the mandatory isolation centers despite being confirmed to them that they are positive by the government.

The reopening of the borders for travel in and outside Botswana concerned the leaders too.

Masetlheng Councillor Veronica Mothibi said the health authorities should be clear on what is the procedure for those who comes in the border from abroad whether they quarantine or not.

Mothibi says some of the people who will be next week travelling into Botswana are Batlokwa.

“It has to be made clear that people who gets in borders go to quarantines. If they come in and gets straight to their families this could be a risk despite them having to show results,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sebilo said the high level of non-compliance by the public including in Tlokweng is worrying noting that people disregard health protocols by gathering in alcohol selling places.

He averred that as festive season approach, the situation can be worse if people don’t comply.

Sebilo went on to say that community based COVID-19 response approach has been taken with committees set in communities for purposes of sensitizing nation about need to be compliant.

He noted that the tribal leaders in Dikgosi will be seating on the committees and will be tasked with settling disputes related to COVID-19 urging political leaders to work with the committees.

Greater Gaborone zone according to presidential COVID-19 task force team is leading in cases.

As a result, the task team revealed that the major isolation facility for COVID-19 patients being Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital located at University of Botswana (UB) is overwhelmed.

Deputy Coordinator of presidential task team Professor Mosepele Mosepele giving the update on Wednesday said the country recorded 386 new local positive cases hence trend worrying.

He therefore cautioned people residing in Greater Gaborone red zone to avoid travelling into their home villages during the festive season saying they run the risk of spreading the virus out.