Thread by @OfficialMasisi

Let us all observe a moment of silence in remembrance of all Batswana and residents who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, since last year. May their souls rest in peace. AMEN.

When I delivered the State of the Nation Address last month, I reminded you that the end of the State of Public Emergency was not an indication of the end of the pandemic. I therefore urged all of you to continue abiding by the COVID-19 health protocols of face masking,

social distancing, washing or sanitizing your hands as we had all been doing.

Allow me to thank all of you for continuing to abide by all the COVID-19 health protocols.

However, there are still some people who flagrantly disregard the health protocols particularly at

social gatherings and entertainment events which have a great potential to be super spreaders of the virus. I want to emphasise that such behavioural attitude is unacceptable as it can only work to reverse the gains that we have made so far as a country.

As at 26th November 2021, a total of 195 068 COVID- 19 cases and 2 418 deaths had been reported. We have been steadily witnessing a decrease in the number of new cases and deaths in the last three months.

We are currently reporting an average of less 10 infections per 100 000 people compared to 648 cases per 100 000 people at the peak of the third wave. We have also observed a gradual decline in hospitalizations across the country with an average of less than 10

patients at a time at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) and our other health facilities countrywide.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓
As you may have already heard, a new COVID-19 variant has been discovered. Our local COVID-19 genomic surveillance,

which actively monitors COVID-19 variants in Botswana, picked 4 samples that were concerning and discovered a completely new variant.

In accordance with our international obligations, as a responsible member state under the International Health Regulations of 2005, we submitted the suspected new variant for the entire global scientific community to respond to this early finding.

Shortly after our submission, the Republic of South Africa, also submitted a similar concerning variant.

On 26th November 2021, the World Health Organization classified the new variant we had submitted as a Variant of Concern and named it Omicron.

This marked a remarkable scientific contribution to the global COVID-19 response by Botswana, shortly joined by our neighbour, South Africa.

I would like to applaud our scientific community for their relentless efforts in monitoring the variant and being the first to

sequence the Omicron variant of concern and making information available to the international community timeously.

I want to assure you that, new information about the Omicron variant will be shared with you as we gain more knowledge about it. For now, we are able to identify

and track it- but very little is known about it.

Scientists are still studying this new variant to among others establish the following;
• How quickly it can spread,
• How it might make people sick,
• The efficacy of various COVID-19 vaccines against it.

We should be able to share more information on all of the above in the next few weeks as medical scientists across the globe continue to do more research about the Omicron variant.

Following the discovery of this new variant,

we are carefully monitoring all our key COVID-19 pandemic indicators as prescribed in our national response plan such as flu clinic visits, COVID-19 hospitalization rate, laboratory positivity rate, disease burden per 100,000 persons, and isolation bed occupancy.

As Government, we recommit ourselves to intensifying our COVID-19 genomic surveillance and engaging each other on enhancing all the other non- pharmaceutical measures that have proved effective in containing the spread and transmission of COVID-19.

The new variant calls for timely contact tracing to identify, test and quarantine contacts as a disease containment strategy.

Bagaetsho, as Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, the Minister of Health & Wellness highlighted, when he addressed a Press Conference on Sunday,

the response by some countries to our detection of the Omicron variant is unfortunate as it appears to have caused unnecessary panic amongst the public across the world.

Similarly, it defeats the spirit's multilateral cooperation in dealing with this global pandemic.

The decision to ban our citizens from travelling to certain countries was hastily made and is not only unfair but is also unjustified while remain confident that reason and logic will prevail, the harshness of the decision has the effect of our

shaking our belief in the sincerity of declared friendship and commitment of equality and economic prosperity for us.

We cannot promote global inequality when others announced the travel ban on us.

We received sobering news as Mr Strive Masiyiwa informed us of his offer of some vaccines while some would be bought. We hope that those who made this decision will reflect and review their travel restrictions stance against the Southern African region.

𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐄
Government’s priority under the RESET Agenda is to implement a series of life saving measures that include a successful vaccination programme. We have so far made significant progress with regard to our national vaccination programme.

To this end, I am happy to inform you that as of 29th November 2021, an estimated 𝟏,𝟎𝟓𝟑,𝟑𝟔𝟏 people this translates to 𝟕𝟓.𝟕% of the target Batswana citizens and residents over the age of 18 years who have received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccines.

A total of 𝟗𝟓𝟎,𝟗𝟕𝟑 people translating to 𝟔𝟖.𝟒% 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝. This number exceeds the 64% target we had set for ourselves to achieve by end of December 2021.

I want to inform you that initially our targeted population eligible vaccination was 1.5 Million people. However statistics Botswana has revised the target to be 1.3 Million and these figures are based on the number.

This is a remarkable achievement in view of the vaccine delivery challenges that we continue to face, not only as Botswana but also in most parts of the continent.

This great milestone in our fight against the pandemic is in consonance with the RESET Agenda priority number one of saving our people from COVID-19. We applaud all those who made this achievement possible including Ministry of Health and Wellness,

other key stakeholders and yourselves who came forward to receive your dose. We continue to encourage those who are eligible to also come forward to receive their dose.

In this regard, I am delighted to inform you that yesterday we received 525,330 doses of Pfizer of the Two Million doses we have ordered and fully paid for. We are expecting and additional 1.6million Pfizer doses before the end of this month.

We are one of the three countries in Africa that have achieved the World Health Organisation target of vaccinating at least 40% of the entire population by December 2021. We are committed to ensure that all is done to reduce the transmission of the virus in the country.

More vaccines are being procured to ensure availability for those who have not yet received any dose. Government is also considering booster doses for those who may be identified as qualifying for them.

As much as the cases have been consistently low, Government through the different Ministries leading the different sectors, has been working tirelessly to prepare for potential outbreaks and a fourth (4th) wave.

Some of the initiatives that have been implemented or are ongoing include:

• Installation of oxygen generating plants; this initiative is progressing well. When this is in place, oxygen will be extracted from the air and processed into medical oxygen.

• Increasing skilled human capacity; through our various partnerships we have had appropriate training of health care professionals on management of COVID-19, provided locally and outside the country.

• There is currently other training that is ongoing and on the care of COVID-19 patients and officers participating represent all the health districts and referral hospitals in Botswana.

• Currently there are 2363 isolation beds in our public health facilities that are available for those who may need to be cared for in health facilities. As at 29th November 2021, 57 isolation beds were occupied bringing our bed occupancy to 2%.

Those who do not need hospitalisation may be isolated at home.

• Government through the Ministry of Health and Wellness has developed and is implementing a Home Based Care strategy in order to provide care and monitor patients.

• Engagement of stakeholders including public and
private sector has been a key component of our COVID-19 response strategy. As I have said before, we are all in this together. So far we have engaged with:
i. Business Botswana (private sector)

ii. Botswana Music Union and events organisers
iii. Religious leaders iv. Tourism sector
v. Community leaders
vi. And yourselves the public and many others.

All these are in an effort for us to work together in advocacy, rollout of vaccine and ensuring that we act as each other’s keepers and own keepers to ensure compliance to COVID-19 regulations as well as mobilizing all of us to ensure that we get vaccinated.

𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃
Bagaetsho, we remain resolute in our fight against this pandemic and we will continue to put in place measures aimed at mitigating the effects of COVID-19 among our people.

I wish to reiterate that it is our responsibility as individuals to continue to prioritise our adherence to COVID-19 health protocols.

In conclusion, let me remind you about the need for our compliance to all legal instruments which came into effect following the end of State of Public Emergency.

We are expected to among others adhere to the following:

(a) Continuing to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 by adhering to public health and social measures that include wearing masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and getting vaccinated.

(b) Encouraging outdoor gatherings over indoor gatherings and observing prescribed social distancing of 1-2 metres.

(c) The entertainment industry promoters lobbied to encourage events attendees to present vaccination certificates.

(d) Requiring all hosts of mass gatherings such as dipatlo, manyalo, dikhwaere, diphitlho le tse dingwe to ensure full compliance with all COVID- 19 health protocols and Regulations which are legally binding and enforceable.

(e) To enhance our protection at ports of entry, we will without fail ensure strict enforcement of the 72- hour negative PCR policy. Furthermore, a valid vaccine certificate will be required on arrival.

(f) We will continue to intensify the COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

The different sectors led by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries will continue to elaborate on these measures.

I would like to thank everyone who has assisted in our fight against COVID-19. I am particularly grateful to health,

law enforcement and port of entry frontline staff both in public and private sectors for their selfless dedication in the fight against COVID-19. I am equally indebted to all Batswana and residents of this country for their cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.

I plead that we continue with the spirit of working together for our own survival.

I also wish to thank all leaders, particularly, Members of Parliament, Councillors, Dikgosi, Baruti and many others who continue to provide leadership in the fight against COVID-19.

To our development partners and friendly countries, we thank you for the COVID-19 vaccine doses that you continue to generously provide. We also thank COVID-19 Presidential Task Force for continuing advise Government in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please continue observing the COVID-19 health protocols of social distancing, washing hands or sanitizing and wearing masks and avoid unnecessary
travelling. Let me in advance and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

We look forward to a much better year ahead and continue to trust the Lord for his sustenance and protection.
PULA!! #AdvancingTogether #PushaBW #ResetBW #ImplementingOurChangeMandate #WeCanBeatCovid19 #GoMasisi🇧🇼