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By Baboloki Semele
In what many see as a progressive move, Botswana’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Edwin Dikoloti has announced that effective Monday 14th February 2022, the country may not need the provision of PCR tests, from travellers, both citizens and non-citizens provided they produce undeniable evidence of full vaccination, except for children under the age of 12.
In a televised address along with Acting Director of Health Services – Dr. Pamela Smith-Lawrence, Dr. Dikoloti noted that though Botswana was seen as losing the fight against Covid-19, the country has done well to ensure proper protection of the citizens and inhabitants of Botswana.
Dikoloti highlighted that Botswana started vaccinating the local population on the 26th of March last year. He cited that risk rollout plan, in which the government gave priority to the elderly above the age of 51, as well as people under vulnerable conditions, such as those under chronic medication because the categories were registering a high number of severe diseases and death in all districts of the Southern African country.
Currently, the country is at phase four level of vaccination, where people aged 12 are now eligible to vaccinate. The government has initiated a number of campaigns, mainly to target the reluctant youthful population, such as drive-through in open spaces, where people are vaccinated in the comfort of their car seats. The government has also started booster doses for those eligible.
Announcing the measures put in place to fight Covid 19, later gazetted, Dr. Dikoloti said Botswana government introduced the public health order, and in the revised guidelines, one is requested to be fully vaccinated when entering Botswana, and in case an individual is not fully vaccinated, the country will then demand a PCR test and possible isolation at the individual’s expense.
The government has also made a provision for vaccination sites at ports of entry, to vaccinate travellers who are not fully vaccinated. Regarding Botswana’s Covid 19 vaccination card, the minister says plans are underway to introduce cards with QR code, to standardize the cards with the rest of the world.
The Minister said for the avoidance of doubt, if one is due for a booster dose and has not taken it, they are regarded as partially vaccinated, and will automatically fall within those whom PCR test will be demanded from.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Botswana from 3 January 2020 to 11 February 2022, there have been 259 655 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2 597 deaths. As of 30 December 2021, a total of 1 169 197 vaccine doses have been administered.
Meanwhile, out of the 347,000 people eligible for booster jabs, about 23 percent, or 79,000, have received them. According to Dikoloti, some vaccination sites were forced to close due to a low turnout of people receiving booster doses. By 20 January, Botswana – with a national population of 2.37 million – had fully vaccinated 45.9% of the population, and 50.8% of the population had received their first dose.
The Acting Director of Health Services, Dr. Pamela Smith-Lawrence noted that the southern African country is now bringing vaccination sites to the people, focusing on bus stations, churches, festivals, schools, universities, malls, and ward gatherings to encourage people to get vaccinated because of the availability of vaccines. She noted that they have asked churches and event promoters to notify the Ministry of large gatherings so that a special dispensation would be put in place to vaccinate people at their place of comfort.