Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi attends a parliament meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, May 5, 2020. Botswana has intentions to slowly open up the economy following a five weeks lockdown, ending on Thursday, to fight COVID-19 pandemic. The country's legislators will convene an emergency parliament meeting on Wednesday to discuss new regulations expected to usher in opening of businesses and schools, under strict supervision. According to proposed regulations, presented by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to parliament on Tuesday, the Southern Africa country wants to gradual allow businesses, traders or school to operate after satisfying Health Services Director or any authorized official that they will prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
GABORONE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has intentions to slowly open up the economy following a five weeks lockdown, ending on Thursday, to fight COVID-19 pandemic.
The country's legislators will convene an emergency parliament meeting on Wednesday to discuss new regulations expected to usher in opening of businesses and schools, under strict supervision.
According to proposed regulations, presented by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to parliament on Tuesday, the Southern Africa country wants to gradual allow businesses, traders or school to operate after satisfying Health Services Director or any authorized official that they will prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"From 8th May, 2020 until 20th May, 2020 at midnight during this phase of the lockdown and for the remainder of the state of public emergency, a trade, business or school may operate where it has satisfied the Director of Health Services, or any person authorized by the Director for that purpose, of its ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the following," said the planned regulation.
Some of the proposed interventions that institutions and entrepreneurs are expected to put in place include checking of body temperature of all persons accessing the trade business or school, and where a person's body temperature is 37.4 degrees Celsius.
The new regulations will demand any person with body temperature above the stipulated level shall not be allowed to access the trade, business or school premises and the person shall be referred to the Health Services Director.
In addition, government wants regular disinfecting of the trade, business or school premises, under the supervision of the Health Service Director.
