By Kefiloe Kajane
The Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, says the weekly Covid-19 positivity rate has declined from 47 percent in the January 3-9 week to 32 percent, 36 percent and now 31 percent in the following weeks respectively.
The infection rate saw Lesotho moving to a total lockdown, or red coloured restrictions, and Majoro said the country still needs to reach an infection rate of five percent which is relatively safe.
The government has since resolved to move the country from the red level to the less stringent orange level.
“With the prevailing situation of Covid-19 infections in the country, consideration was given to the level of infections, health system capacity, and incidence of deaths. The spread and severity of risk of the coronavirus is now at the community transmission level of the Risk Determination Framework throughout the country, although at a decreasing rate.
“The deaths are still high. While there is a registered decline of the risk from the red high community transmission stage, the severity is still at a danger zone that puts the country at high risk of the infections at Community Transmission Level.
“The government has, therefore, resolved to put the country under a relaxed lockdown to adjusted Orange Stage mitigation measures,” Majoro stated.