COVID- 19 transmission rate higher in Gaborone than SA
Dikoloti says as he absolves Rakgare
Botswana, particularly the Greater Gaborone, is at a higher rate of transmitting the COVID- 19 virus compared to the Republic of South Africa.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Edwin Dikoloti told Parliament that this assumption was based on the spreading pattern and density of the disease.
Dr. Dikoloti was speaking in parliament where he went to great lengths to absolve his colleague, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Minister Tumiso Rakgare from any violation of the Covid protocols after he had travelled to South Africa and not quarantined upon return.
Instead Rakgare had interacted with fellow MPs, a conduct that earned him the wrath of opposition MPs.
According to Dikoloti the new regulations governing people entering Botswana following relaxation of restrictions on movement of persons, require that a traveller entering Botswana shall present a Polymerase Chain Reaction negative test results not older than 72 hours, at the time of departure from country of origin at the port of entry.
He said a traveller may at his or her cost be required to undertake immediate COVID- 19 testing and isolation or quarantine within the COVID- 19 zone.
Dikoloti stated that interpretation and practical implementation of the regulation means that travellers entering Botswana required to have the negative test would have been in the host country for a period exceeding 36 hours.
Upon arrival, travellers are required to self- monitor, said Dr. Dikoloti.
“Self- monitoring meaning the person becomes self- aware to note development of symptoms consistent with those of COVID- 19.
“The traveller is further expected to be cautious and limit movement and association to further protect others in this period of uncertainty,” said Dikoloti.
He added that the practical implementation of the regulation considers the most considerable time from the last testing to which the virus can be reasonably detected within the person.
The application further gives the health authority prerogative to institute testing based on the inherent risk acquired by the traveller regarding various factors.
These include the transmission pattern of the area visited in comparison with the now hosting; time spent; and uptake and enforcement of the social protective measures at the host country.
Dikoloti said using the current operating Statutory Instrument ( SI), what can be adduced from Rakgare’s situation and his travel to South Africa and return to base within 24 hours, is that there was “no indication for immediate quarantine for the minister” and his test results can be considered upon re- entry into Botswana.
The minister said it is assumed that the two countries are implementing and enforcing similar social protective measures, and as such Rakgare as a “responsible citizen, is assumed to be consistent in his practice of the said measures”.
According to Dr. Dikoloti it can be further assumed that based on the spreading pattern and density of the disease, Botswana, in particular the Greater Gaborone, is at a higher rate of transmitting as opposed to Republic of South Africa.
He pointed out that the MPs can therefore, be advised to practise the usual social protective measures at all times to ensure their own safety, and that their neighbours and associates are also safe.
“It should also be noted that, while protecting the public there also exists a need to protect the Executive and the Parliamentarians of the country in keeping with providing extra security for the country’s leadership,” Dikoloti said.
Under such circumstances and after considering the Public Health Act Section 80 ( 1)( c), the Director of Health Services took a decision that Rakgare “will not attend Parliament until he has been tested”.
The cited Section talks about powers to enforce precaution and states that the Director can impose requirements or conditions as regards to the medical examination, detention, quarantine cleansing vaccination, isolation or medical surveillance or otherwise on a person entering Botswana.