Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Tuesday that
the government would declare a state of public emergency for the purpose of
taking appropriate and stringent measures to address the risks posed by the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana’s president. |
In his
statement on the declaration of the state of the public emergency in Botswana
regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital city, Masisi
said it has become apparent that urgent and necessary steps need to be taken to
protect “our country and its people from this deadly virus.”
The threat
to Botswana, which announced three confirmed cases on March 30, has escalated
considerably in view of the fact that the southern African country’s
neighboring countries have seen a rapid rise in confirmed cases, some of which
have resulted in fatalities, he said.
“In terms of
the powers vested in me under Section 17 (1) of the Constitution, I, Dr.
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana do
hereby declare that a state of public emergency shall exist from midnight on
April 2, 2020 until further notice,” he said.
Whilst the
state of public emergency is in place, Masisi said there shall also be “extreme
social distancing commencing on April 2, 2020 at midnight for a period of 28
days” because it is in the best interest of the nation.
“This
decision was by no means taken lightly,” said Masisi, who addressed the nation
via a live broadcast through the state television (Botswana Television) since
he is still placed under a 14-day self-isolation which started on March 21.
According to
Masisi, all individuals across the country will be expected to adhere to a more
severe form of social distancing and movement out of the home is only for those
performing essential services and transporting essential goods during this
period of extreme lockdown.
Those
involved will be permitted to travel using the COVID-19 Travel Permit that will
be issued by the government.
Masisi said
the measures are taken to limit the spread of the diseases that are transmitted
among humans.
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