Infectivity rate falls from 47% to 4%

MAMELLO SEBATANE

Maseru – While celebrating World Health Day under the theme “Together we can reach a fairer and healthier world” Minister of Health Semano Sekatle yesterday expressed his appreciation to Basotho for working hard as a unit towards winning the fight against Covid-19. 

He said that despite different challenges that were faced, especially by the health sector, Lesotho has managed to move from a high 47 percent infectivity rate to just four percent.

“As a country we have relied on importation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and even vaccines because we do not produce them locally so our hope has been on observance of the safety precautions and regulations recommended by WHO against the spread of Coronavirus,” he said.

Sekatle revealed that Africa needs at least 17 percent of the already available and approved vaccines to combat the virus but it has only accessed two percent. 

He indicated further that economic and political disparities regarding the distribution of vaccines around the world should be a wake-up call to Basotho.

“Initially, we had expected the first batch of vaccines that would cater for almost 20 percent of the population, instead Lesotho received only 36 000 vaccines,” he said warning the public that the battle is not over yet therefore they should continue to observe all safety regulations against Covid-19.

He said that more vaccines are however expected in the country next month.