Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi along with all other members of parliament have been placed under a 14-day mandatory quarantine after a health worker screening lawmakers for coronavirus was found tested positive for Covid-19, reported Reuters.
The health worker was on duty in parliament on Wednesday during a special sitting of parliament.
Botswana is currently under a state of emergency with a raft of measures being enforced to curb the spread and increase containment efforts of the virus. The parliament session was called to discuss on Masisi’s proposal to extend a state of emergency. The president has requested approval of a six-month state of public emergency in the country.
On Thursday, Health Minister Lemogang Kwape told parliamentarians that the health worker had tested positive for COVID-19 overnight. He confirmed that seven new cases had been recorded in the southern African country bringing the national tally to thirteen.
“The health worker had not shown any symptoms but had just taken a routine test. Unfortunately, the result came late on Wednesday after she was on duty at yesterday’s parliament session,” Kwape told the assembly.
It is the second time that President Masisis is undergoing self-isolation because of the virus. He was made to self-isolate in March after he traveled to Namibia for the swearing-in of his counterpart Hage Geingob. At the time Namibia had recorded three confirmed coronavirus cases and Botswana had none. The president tested negative for COVID-19 and released from home quarantine to resume duties at his office.
The lawmakers can either self-isolate themselves at home or shift to facilities designated by the government.
“They [health workers] have requested that you complete some form to show where you are going so they can go and see whether you should be quarantined there or be moved to some other suitable place,” said National Assembly Speaker Phandu Skelemani.
