Lesotho declares national emergency over COVID-19 outbreak
While the country has no confirmed case, it also doesn’t have testing capability.
JOHANNESBURG - Lesotho has on Wednesday declared the coronavirus a national emergency and schools will be closed but public primary schools will continue feeding schemes where some pupils get their only meal.
The country's Prime Minister Tom Thabane has not imposed any travel restrictions, but all arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days.
While the country has no confirmed case, it also doesn’t have testing capability.
Lesotho is the first Southern African Customs Union country that is not banning travel by foreign nationals from high-risk countries
The country's textile industry is mainly in the hands of Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers but Thabane hasn’t specified any restrictions from China - the epicentre of the coronavirus.
He said screening would be intensified and one facility had been earmarked to quarantine all arrivals for 14 days.
Meanwhile, schools will be closed until 17 Apri- but the ministry of education will continue feeding learners.
It said it was aware that this was the only place where many children get a nutritious meal.
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