Africa-Press – Lesotho. Despite the decreasing cases of infections in the country, Lesotho is not yet out of danger yet, the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) has warned.
Speaking at the NACOSEC weekly briefing in Mafeteng, the NACOSEC’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Operational Support, Thabo Ntoi said the country has
recorded a decline on the rate of infections over the past week which is week 34, since January this year. He said NACOSEC has noted a “consistent decline” over the past weeks. Ntoi said the rate of infections is decreasing. Since January the country is in the 34 week of monitoring and fighting the pandemic.
Positive cases
As of last week, Ntoi said the country had recorded 7 492 positive cases during week 34, compared to 10 847 in week 33. The country is sitting at 15 771 cases as at August 28.
Recoveries
He said they recorded 380 recoveries during week 33, which increased to 756 recoveries by week 34. Overall, the DCEO said there are 9 216 recoveries representing about 61 percent.
Deaths
There were 20 reported COVID-19 related deaths during week 33 according to NACOSEC, while in week 34 there were 15 recorded deaths. As at August 28, the total number of deaths stood at 532 which is 3.5 percent.
Positivity rate
He said since the country has been placed in purple colour, the positivity rate has been hovering between 9 during the week 32 and 10 percent in week 33. Meanwhile week 35 has seen six percent decrease.
Bed occupancy
During week 32 the hospitals across the country admitted 178 COVID-19 patients, 127 admissions in week 33 and 99 admissions in week 34. The bed occupancy was at 28
percent during week 32, 21 percent during week 33 and 16 percent in week 34. NACOSEC reports that 66 percent of the patients were admitted in intensive care units
(ICU) in week 32 whereas there were 46 patients who were oxygenated in week 34.
Cross-border travellers
He reported that there were 11 093 incoming travellers who tested positive for COVID-19. In week 33, 29 Basotho entering the border were found with the virus and in week 34, 31 were found to positive.
Vaccination statistics
He said the vaccination campaign had reached about 88, 000 people in week 32, 175 396 in week 33 and 216 370 as at August 28. Without giving the exact figures he noted that this figure has increased as there are about 250
000 people who have been jabbed, representing about 10.8 percent of the population. The government plans to vaccinate everyone by the end of this year. Asked
what these decline in infections could be attributed to, he said the tight enforcement measures of the health protocols are to be credited for this. The
DCEO also mentioned that the ban of the crowd pulling activities such as political rallies and entertainment events had contributed to the decrease. NACOSEC
is a government structure which is established to lead the country’s response to the Coronavirus. It was established in June 2020 after the dissolution of
the then National Emergency Command Center (NECC). Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhnom Ghebreyesus has appealed to all countries to throw their weight behind the pandemic
treaty as “it would be a monumental error to think the danger of COVID-19 has passed”. This is ahead of the WHO members special session slated later in November.
The WHO Director-General is of the view that: “An international agreement of any kind must be designed and owned by all Member States [and] it must be truly representative and inclusive.
