Africa-Press – Lesotho. The government has moved to allow more socio-economic activities following the restrictions necessitated by the lockdown regulations to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. In a televised speech on Sunday, the Minister of Health Hon.
Motlatsi Maqelepo said the government has opened five border posts including the Moshoeshoe I International Airport to enable movement between two neighboring countries, Lesotho and South Africa.
The opened borders are: Maseru Border Post, Maputsoe Border Posts, Caledonspoort Border Post, Vanrooyen’s Gate and Qacha’s Nek Border Post. Maqelepo said the COVID-19 tests are expensive.
Reflecting on people who cross the border to South Africa (SA), the Minister mentioned that those who are sick, will be afforded special dispensation by the government which will secure their COVID-19 clearance certificate to allow them entry to SA.
He said the funeral services and churches attendance is still capped at 50 participants, although the latter could have as many as 100 provided they hold outdoor services.
The Minister said the schools will open provided they are declared COVID-19 compliant. He also mentioned that the entertainment industry is open albeit with reservations.
He said private functions could begin from 10am and run until 20:00hrs while commercial events should end at 23:00hrs. Maqelepo also apologized to health workers whom the government owes allowance attributing non-payments to “challenges”.
According to the last published results by the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) on October 14, there are 42 reported deaths of COVID 19, 961 recoveries and 21 291 tests conducted.
As per aforementioned statistics, there are 830 COVID-19 active cases. Meanwhile last week, in its sitting, the Cabinet has adopted a decision to “prioritize” nutrition as part of the COVID-19 in national response plans.
This is also in line with His Majesty King Letsie III’s positions as the African Nutrition Champion and Special Ambassador for Nutrition at African Union (AU) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) respectively.
This, the Cabinet will achieve through roping in of the nutrition experts in planning and responses mechanisms to ensure that “sectors integrate nutrition-sensitive action within COVID-19 response”.
“[The government will] prioritise nutrition in the social safety nets response through resourcing of social safety nets interventions that focus on nutrition to enable vulnerable families to access nutritious foods, scaling up social safety nets that include school feeding programmes and making hand washing facilities, sanitation and public information a priority,” reads the Cabinet decision.
Maqelepo also disclosed a government move to restrict public alcohol consumption, saying that it can be consumed privately and it is banned at social events and in public places.
This he said, is also to arrest the spread of infections, further urging members of the public to always observe health protocols against the pandemic.
As per the color coding system that the government has adopted, Lesotho is in colour purple, a move which is said to pose lesser threat to the pandemic.
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