Africa-Press – Lesotho. Scores of Basotho are being returned home by South African (SA) officials at the border posts as suspected to be Covid-19 positive following antigen tests at that country’s port health facilities.
SA is conducting antigen tests to people entering their country and many Basotho have been denied access to that country after testing positive. One of those returned who
spoke to Informative Newspaperon condition of anonymity said after testing positive last Saturday he was told he can no longer continue his journey into SA.
The Covid-19 suspect however mentioned that that officials told them that the results were not 100 percent accurate and will have to be tested again in Lesotho.
He mentioned that he was then re-tested at the Lesotho port health services and was told the results will be available after 14 days. He said that during the waiting period
he was advised to self-quarantine at home and observe the Covid-19 health safety protocols. He said to get back home, they used public transport highlighting that there was no special
transport arrangement to ferry them to their places. In an interview with Informative Newspaper, the Ministry of Health (MoH) Acting Director General Dr.
Linkeng Mapota said they have engaged with their South African counterparts but did not say what conclusions they reached. She mentioned that such patients
upon arrival in the country will be swabbed and those samples will be taken to the laboratory. Dr. Mapota further mentioned that they will be working with the
Districts Medical Officers (DMO). The Acting DG however noted that the antigen tests could give “false” positive or “false” negative. She said that people who will test positive and do not exhibit any Covid-19 signs
will be expected to self-quarantine adding that those who have tested positive will be assisted to return to their destinations. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister (PM) Dr.
Moeketsi Majoro has taken to twitter that, “although we moved to purple restrictions on Sunday, indications are that the infections continue unabated.
Cabinet will meet [on Tuesday] to review the situation and give direction. ” On January 1, the PM took the country from the blue colour coding system to the purple colour coding system following the hike of the Covid-19 new
infections. Recently there are some institutions and government ministries that are temporarily closing for disinfection and decontamination of their premises due to their staff members
testing positive. One such Ministry that had closed is the Ministry of Development Planning. The Ministry’s memo reads; “The Ministry of Development Planning (MDP) regrettably informs all staff about an
employee who has been admitted at Berea Hospital while awaiting Covid-19 tests results. As such our offices at Headquarters will be closed from today 4th
January to Friday 8th January 2021. ” Yesterday the Rector of the Lerotholi Polytechnic also issued a correspondence informing the institution’s stuff of the passing on of the Bursar.
“It is with deep sorrow and regret that I inform you about the untimely death of our beloved Bursar and brother, Mr. Leonard Musaruwa. He passed away after a short illness on the 4th January 2021 while awaiting his Covid-19 tests results,” reads the statement in pertinent part.
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