SO NEAR, YET SO FAR! SOE ends, MoHW remains in charge
Nightclubs and other affected businesses are expected to blink back to life after a year and a half of total closure and bring the groove back when the State of Emergency (SOE) ends next week.
Much to the relief of night crawlers and local businesses, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Mmusi Kgafela said this week that restrictions imposed last year by President Mokgweetsi Masisi in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 will be lifted on the 1st of October 2021.
Without doubt, Kgafela’s announcement will invoke ‘hooray’ reactions from local businesses that had collapsed leading to massive jobs lost and a battered economy. But before celebrations can burst open, Mmusi has given hints that it might not be all systems go.
There will be monitoring and regulations put in place in an effort to deter recklessness that might send the country back into the devastating effects of Coronavirus. Because of the amended liquor act, advice from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) will be a guiding tool going forward, and when necessary, those in power will not hesitate to fasten the belt once again in an effort to save lives. In fact, the country waits with bated breath to hear from the MoHW what will happen after the 30th September. Regulations such as the wearing of masks and movement restrictions remain itching subjects of the day.
This week, the MoHW through spokesperson Christopher Nyanga shared that they will be resuming vaccination this week following a few weeks of temporary halt.
As of this week, Botswana had over 500 000 vaccine doses and only 13 percent of its population reportedly vaccinated. It is believed that by end of the month, vaccination progress will have rolled out to lower age groups.