The Sunday Mail
Norman Muchemwa
Neighbouring Botswana has registered its first suspected coronavirus case in the region yesterday at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
The Government of Botswana announced the development Friday in a press release on their official twitter handle @BWGovernment.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has since declared the outbreak that had killed 213 people and 9 692 confirmed cases of infection according to China’s health commission.
The virus is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year but became deadly last week.
The virus is characterised by fever, cough difficulty in breathing, fatigue and headaches.
“Botswana registered its first suspected case of coronavirus on the 30th of January 2020. The suspected case was registered at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport upon arrival using Ethiopian Airways from China,” reads the press release.
The Botswana Government is working closely with WHO in monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the Government of Zimbabwe is on high alert to contain the situation in the event of cases of the virus being recorded.
Secretary for Health and Childcare Dr Agnes Mahomva said surveillance teams are on high alert at all points of entry.
“The surveillance team remains on high alert at all points of entry and health facilities. Screening is being conducted to all those coming from affected countries,” she said.
“Our team is currently taking these people’s particulars such as their areas of visit, their temperatures, the duration of stay in Zimbabwe, and other details for surveillance.”
No suspected case of the disease has been recorded in Zimbabwe so far.
