By Teboho Serutla
Maluti Mountain Brewery (MMB), pub owners and NACOSEC through some representatives from the department of health had discussions over regulations that can be applied during the businesses’ operation to implement protocol measures due to COVID-19 in Maseru on Thursday.
This follows a series of arrests made by the police of some of the pub owners who failed to comply with regulations on announced restrictions to control the spread of the pandemic.
At the occasion NACOSEC head of communications Baroane Phenithi said that 136 000 tests have been conducted and 13 603 positive cases have been recorded with 6 664 recoveries and 377 deaths recorded so far.
Some of those suspected to have contracted the virus failed to go for quarantine making it difficult for proper record keeping on the infections. Others, according to Phenithi left they places of stay while on the other hand some suspects crossed illegally to South Africa.
“We failed to curb COVID-19 entering into our country, so it is our responsibility to curb it from spreading all over the country,” the health inspector at ministry of health and social welfare, Lineo Mohlomi told the occasion.
It emerged at the event that some of the pub operators ran their businesses without licenses causing a remarkable loss for those licensed.
They observed police reluctance to raid bars and restaurants in the city and instead acted on those operating in the urban areas.
The pub owners were strongly urged for hygienic practices and sufficient ventilation as a measure to curb the spread of the virus. Also, they were urged to ensure that running water and soap were available at their places for washing hands.
They were also ordered to abide by the curfew imposed on their operations and only open their businesses on stipulated days.
Bars and pubs are allowed to sell their products between 5.00am and 7.00pm.
The sales manager of MMB Pusetso Thwala declared that to have the beverage businesses operating successfully, the clients’ safety must be assured. They were also urged to adhere to safety measures so as to avoid infections.
