The Mares released after rapid testing
When the Women’s Senior National team, the Mares was released from quarantine early on Wednesday morning, the public and football observers were surprised as to why the team did not endure a 14 - day quarantine period as per the norm. Little did they know that the technology of testing for the COVID 19 virus had since moved on at a rapid pace. In an interview this week, Tumo Mpatane confirmed that the whole team was Covid free and there was not a single scare nor suspected case as some with local football circles had suspected. Mpatane said the team used the rapid test that showed “we don’t have any suspected cases, the girls tested in South Africa and they used the same testing kit when they arrived here.” Mpatane said they were using the rapid testing kit that gives out results within 48- 72 hours. “They tested and remained in quarantine for about four days and that’s when we released them after the results were out and they were not showing signs.” Mpatane says they were following all the procedure as brought to them by the health officials. “We have done the process following
the procedure from the health officials; the girls will isolate and they will be monitored by the team doctor and will all test if there is a suspected case.” The women’s team participated in the 2020 Cosafa cup that took place in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa; the province is considered one of the red zones of Covid - 19. The Mares lost 2- 1 to hosts South Africa in the final. The prompt results that come with the rapid tests are expected to benefit the rest of the local sports fraternity in the long run. Travelers are required to produce results of a Covid test taken less than 72 hours before departure, indicating negative results. With all that in the picture teams and athletes are now expected to travel to other countries to attend tournaments as the Botswana Government is set to introduce the testing kits effective December 1 2020.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships are slated for March 2021 and local athletes will have to travel to China to participate in the Championships, other events include the Winter Youth Olympics slated for January 2020 in Switzerland.