Lesotho has begun carrying out internal COVID-19 tests, and announces results without taking specimens to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa for testing.

The COVID-19 Incident Manger in the Ministry of Health Dr. Tsietso Mot’soane explained yesterday that when COVID-19 was first reported, southern African countries took their specimens to the NICD in South Africa for testing, while they were preparing to carry out their own tests.

She said they resumed carrying out tests in Lesotho in the beginning of June this year, and at the time they carried out tests and ensured that the results they got, matched the ones from NICD.

Dr. Mot’soane articulated that in the first week of June they tested one hundred people, until they were convinced that they get the same results as the NICD in South Africa.

She said the regional office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) allowed them to continue internal testing, and release results without taking specimens to the NICD.