Botswana increases church gatherings from 50 to 100 people

Source: Xinhua| 2020-11-20 00:59:51|Editor: huaxia

GABORONE, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Church gatherings in Botswana have been increased from 50 to 100 people, the office of the president announced Thursday, as the southern African country continues to open up all the sectors of the economy.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana made the disclosure during a meeting he had with the Botswana Network of Christian Communities led by Bishop Metlhayotlhe Beleng, the office of president tweeted after the meeting.

"President Masisi informed them (members of the Botswana Network of Christian Communities) that the cabinet approved the recommendation to increase church services to two per week and number of attendees to 100," the office of president said.

Masisi said the decision was based not on the holding capacities or lack thereof of the churches but rather on lack of capacity on "our health system to handle an outbreak."

Furthermore, Masisi and the clergymen discussed a number of issues in a meeting that both parties described as very fruitful.

For his part, Beleng told Xinhua that the government has taken a fundamental decision because it is at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic where the public is in a serious need for spiritual support which is only found at church.

Following the announcement of its confirmed COVID-19 case in March this year, Botswana immediately announced a raft of precautionary measures aimed at curbing the spread and transmission of the global pandemic in the country of 2.1 million people.

As of Thursday, Botswana has recorded a cumulative of 9, 103 cases and 30 COVID-19 related deaths while 6,801 people have since recovered from the deadly disease. Enditem

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