The new coronavirus variant, declared of concern and named Omicron by WHO, has gone through a number of mutations and has spread to Botswana. Its health ministry declared that a total of 19 infections of the new Covid 19 variant were detected in the country.
Health Minister of Botswana, Edwin Dikoloti said at a press conference that the entire health sector is worried over the rising number of cases which is a worry point for the country, but Botswana is ready to deal with the new covid-19 variant.
Botswana declared on Friday that Omicron, the highly mutated variant, was detected on the four foreign nationals who entered the country on a diplomatic mission. This announcement was made one day after the variant was identified by the South African scientists, leading to travel bans in the region.
Dikoloti further said that most of the Covid-19 cases have come from foreign countries, however, refused to disclose the details of the four diplomats saying that it would “deo-politicise” the virus.
He further added that “We are concerned that there seem to have been attempting to stigmatise the country where it was detected. Detection, in this case, was treated as origination”.
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With just over 20% of the Botswana population being vaccinated from the 2.4 million people, the new variant certainly raises a huge concern.