Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Swaziland Ministry of Health only tests 80 of 1.3 million population for coronavirus


Only 80 people from the total population of 1.3 million people appear to have been tested for coronavirus through the Swaziland (eSwatini) Ministry of Health. 

Minister Lizzie Nkosi told a press briefing on Tuesday (31 March 2020) that a total of 80 tests had been sent by the Ministry of Health to neighboring South Africa for analysis. So far, nine people had been diagnosed as positive. She said 15 of the tests had not been dealt with. She had previously said that was because ‘priority for testing is being given to people who have travelled or have been in close contact with positive patients’.

She also asked people to prepare isolation rooms in their homes for relatives who had recently returned from coronavirus high risk countries. She said this was to ensure other family members were not exposed.

Elsewhere, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Peter Bhembe announced that petrol and paraffin prices would decrease by 100 cents per litre and diesel prices would decrease by 80 cents per litre, effective Friday, 3 April, 2020.

The commercial city of Manzini was reportedly in chaos on Monday after new regulations restricting public transport to early mornings and late afternoons came into force. The eSwatini Observer reported 5,000 people were left stranded. 

Children of King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland, were placed in isolation for 14 days when they returned to the kingdom after studying at schools and universities abroad. They have been tested for coronavirus and await the results.

Below are details of the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. They were released by the Swaziland Ministry of Health on Tuesday.




CLARIFICATION: The total number of test results received by the Ministry of Health since 15 March 2020 was 324. See here https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/total-number-of-coronavirus-test.html


See also

More than 40 arrested in Swaziland for defying coronavirus lockdown during first weekend

Swaziland Govt publishes coronavirus regulations
New offence of spreading coronavirus rumours in Swaziland carries possible five years jail time

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