In response to the recent outbreak of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) globally, Project Santise Maun was established via the Maun District Commissioner with a directive from the Office of the President of Botswana.
Given the impact this virus has had on all of us in the Maun area; we are approaching members of the community in their personal capacity as well as all companies to try and help us in one way or another.
To contribute to what we believe is a cause that will help prevent the outbreak and transmission of the corona virus in the greater Maun region; by distributing hand sanitiser through The Ministry of Health and educating people on the virus and the prevention of transmission.
1. Prevent the outbreak and transmission of coronavirus in the greater Maun region.
2. Procure hand sanitising liquid, soaps etc., for 3 months for up to 50,000 people.
3. Distribute to all appropriate areas & demographics.
4. Run the project for a minimum of 3 months.
5. Educate all persons within the Maun area as to:
a. The biology of the coronavirus/COV1D-19 disease
b. Prevention of its transmission c. Personal hygiene issues
Including but not limited to:
1. Maun and surrounding villages and communities
2. Essential government departments
3. National Parks & Game Reserves
4. Other appropriate areas, as identified to make up the shortfall
In December 2019, a new respiratory illness began to spread throughout Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million people. The disease, known as COVID-19, quickly infected tens of thousands of people over the following weeks. China imposed extreme restrictions on travel and work, and by the end of February, cases of COVID-19 had slowed inside the country while spiking in others.
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
The COVID-19 virus affects different people in different ways. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. People who have a pre-existing medical conditions and those over 60 years old have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and death.
Common symptoms include:
Other symptoms include:
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should self-isolate and contact their medical provider or a COVID-19 information line for advice on testing and referral.
People with fever, cough or difficulty breathing should call their doctor and seek medical attention.
To prevent infection and to slow down the transmission of COVID-19, do the following:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter away from a person who is sick
While we are still learning about how COVID-2019 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.
Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.
Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (from people who are coughing or sneezing.
Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19. Disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask. There is a world-wide shortage of masks, so WHO urges people to use masks wisely.
WHO advises rational use of medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and mis-use of masks (see Advice on the use of masks).
The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data become available.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or surfaces.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within 1 metre of a person who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands.
Currently the only laboratory identified for testing is the National Health Laboratory (NHL). The NHL is equipped with appropriate equipment and trained personnel to test for COVID-19.
Remember, we encourage people to stay at home. If you have the symptoms (coughing, sneezing and fever) call the numbers provided so that health officials may advise accordingly.
The government recommends testing only people with symptoms and who had potentially been exposed to the virus.
During these uncertain times it’s imperative that information shared is from official and verifiable sources. For any information on the current state of affairs in Botswana and new developments in the world with regards to the corona virus; please check the following sites pages:
