MASERU - The Minister of Health Motlatsi Maqelepo confirmed on Wednesday that there are six new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in Lesotho to 35. Maqelepo said of the new cases, two are from Botha-Bothe, two from Leribe and the other two from Maseru.

…total count takes the nation to 35

He said the rate at which the COVID-19 pandemic is growing in Lesotho, shows that means it really exists, adding that Basotho need to change the way they have been responding to the disease. He said the ministry is trying to avoid local infections and transmission, usually after close contact with an infected patient. He said they want to be at a point where people do not gather in large numbers at one place - especially in supermarkets, funerals and churches to mention a few. He said if the rate of infection continues to spread the way it is currently doing, a nation-wide or district lockdown maybe considered. According to Maqelepo, Lesotho has been in a state of lawlessness even before COVID-19, so the current situation makes it difficult for people to adhere to the regulations aimed at decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Due to lack of resources, he said sometimes it takes the ministry four to five days to respond to alerts in different districts and villages. From the confirmed cases, Dr Tšepang Lekhela an epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health said 25 are travellers from South-Africa and other countries while 10 had no reported travelling history. “Ten of the confirmed cases are local transmission with no travel history; three had been in contact with confirmed cases,” she said.

She said seven of the local transmission cases cannot be connected with any of the confirmed cases; six are from Maseru and one from Leribe, confirming that there is a local transmission. This Dr Lekhela was quick to show should be a game-changer for Lesotho. Of the 35 cases, there are seven new recoveries, taking the total number of recoveries to 11 and still no Covid-19 related deaths recorded. Of the 10 districts of Lesotho, only Thaba-Tseka has not recorded any case. Maseru leads with 10 followed by Botha-Bothe with eight. To date the world has recorded a total of 10, 614, 983 confirmed cases, %14, 630 Covid-19 related deaths and 5, 824, 927 recoveries.