MAUN PANICS OVER SUSPECTED CORONA CASE
NEWS of a suspected case of the deadly coronavirus in the Okavango delta has got Maun residents talking and sent many into panic mode.
Just this week, Ngami District Health Management team, confirmed that a 76-year-old American tourist has been temporarily quarantined in one of the safari camps in the Okavango delta as she awaits lab results from neighbouring South Africa.
Matshwane clinic in Maun was identified as an isolation centre for patients of this disease, which has been declared a world pandemic by the World
Health Organisation (WHO). To hear the reaction and readiness of Maun residents on this matter, FRANCINAH BAAITSEMMANA had a chat with random residents on the streets of Maun.
Emmanuel Segotso, 39
It is scary. Just the mention of the name corona makes me tremble. When you mention it, it’s as though you are its carrier. Look, I have children and that’s what makes me even more afraid.
I don’t know what to do or where to hide my children. This is one disease that is deadly and dangerous because it is not easy to avoid or prevent. Batswana are just like free range chickens and this disease will spell disaster for us if it penetrates our borders. We don’t even know whether or not the information about the alleged case of coronavirus is true or false, we are just confused and panicking.
Lucas Mosweu, 44
My feeling is that this is a game of greed by international powerhouses. They created this disease. They then allowed it to spread so that they come up with a cure later at an expensive cost. I believe this is the result of a lab test gone wrong and soon the cure will be availed, but unfortunately by that time, many people would have died.
Rasta Mujuru, 47
Coronavirus is one of the deadliest diseases besides SARS and very difficult to control. It has claimed many lives around the world and I was shocked when I heard that Botswana has suspected cases. I did not expect it to come so early to Botswana. I admit I panicked.
This is a world tragedy because the world evolves around the movement of people anyway. We are only hoping that a cure will be discovered soon. Some of us who depend on mostly tourists for the growth of our businesses, we will be hit hard. We in fact expect a drastic drop in business this year, unless the status quo changes.
Lesedi Idah Letlamma, 34
It is not as scary as many people describe it. For me, it is life as usual. I have heard reports of a suspected case but I don’t believe those rumours. Why should I stop living and enjoying life because there is a disease out there? Such is life, diseases come and go and when it does come to Botswana, all I need to do is follow tips from health officials, wash my hands, cover my mouth and follow all the drill and life goes on.
Gopolang Seloilwe, 36
I have been to Matshwane clinic, which allegedly is closed. That is not true, the clinic is running from morning to evening. No one is quarantined at that clinic. All I know is that there is a tourist quarantined somewhere because she is suspected of having contracted the coronavirus.
It is a suspicion and therefore there is no need to panic. We may talk a different story after tests from South Africa confirm she has the virus. As for now, we can only practise good hygiene. Personally, I am taking precaution; washing my hands more often than before - thoroughly, and using sanitisers.