By Nokwanda Mamba

As of today, the Kingdom of Eswatini tested 207 samples for COVID-19, 32 returned negative and the Ministry for Health await 174 more results.

This was revealed by the Minister for Health Lizzie Nkosi today at Cabinet Offices when addressing members of the media about the pandemic COVID-19. She revealed that the country still have 1 confirmed case of COVID-19.

Elaborating on the results, the Minister expressed that one of the challenges faced by the country which also leads to the delay in the COVID-19 results is that the laboratory currently used by the country in testing the sample for COVID-19 is being used by the whole SADC region which causes longer queues at the lab. She also expressed that the country also uses a Lancet laboratory but for confirmation, these results needs to be first sent to National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) in South Africa.

Nkosi revealed that through the help of the World Health Organization, the country will be able to conduct coronavirus testing locally before the end of the current month. She expressed that the ministry also aim at setting up a big laboratory at the Lubombo Referral Hospital which is currently assigned to treating confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The minister also urged the nation to assist in preventing the virus from entering the Kingdom of Eswatini.