Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Health Hon. Motlatsi Maqelepo announced on Wednesday that the Covid-19 tests resumed on Monday this week. He said the country experienced problems at the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) at the
National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC). The service interruptions at the NRLs have seen about four weeks without Lesotho conducting the COVID-19 tests, thereby NACOSEC relying on private laboratories for
results. He said the normalcy has been effective from Monday this week. The Minister said taking measures to prevent the transmission will be the most effective exercise
they will carry out. Maqelepo added that they are expecting testing kits valued at M27 million which he said they could conduct 10 000 tests if availed.
He said on average amount for conducting a COVID-19 test is M1 200 per test, picking that they are highly funded by the donors. He apologized to the nation for the inconvenience.
The Minister assured that this will be avoided at all costs in the future as they have embarked on the “sustainable strategy” to ensure unrestrained continuity
in the testing of the COVID-19. Maqelepo said the consumables and reagents could last until March 2021. He said Lesotho has not experienced tragedy adding
that it is moderately faring well compared to other African countries. The Minister said there will be an ease restriction on some businesses when crossing the borders
adding that the economy ought to be opened. He appealed to the migrant workers working in South Africa (SA) to approach the Ministry of Labour and Employment
which will advise accordingly. He said the processes of paying NACOSEC staff are at an advanced stage and gave a promise that they are going to be paid.
Expressing optimism about the salaries, he said, “we are now comfortable. ” Maqelepo also urged the people who are being smuggled into the country to desist and be screened, a
move which he said will lessen their chances of infections and from drowning amid the rains. The Minister said they want to avail rapid tests kits to all districts to mitigate tests
conduction. He said the government is avoiding a situation of surging of the virus which he said will threaten the gains made to combat the disease. He also urged the
members of the public to always observe COVID-19 preventive protocols. The first case of Coronavirus was first reported in Africa on 14th February 2020 when COVID-19 first spread to the continent.
On May 13th, Lesotho reported the first case. If you would like to subscribe for informative newspaper FREE WhatsApp Edition, please follow this link to join. The admin will then remove you from the welcome group so you start receiving the paper weekly: https://chat. whatsapp. com/loL8tStNSB186kQeMrb3Cg
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