Botswana is expected to receive the fifth COVID-19 wave

The Ministry of Health received 635 new cases between May 22 and May 25, with two deaths. As of May 31, Botswana had reported 30,126 cases.

Due to an increase in the number of cases, Botswana's health authorities said on Tuesday that the country was likely to enter its fifth wave of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Pamela Smith-Lawrence, the Ministry of Health's health services director, revealed this while testifying before the country's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city.

As a measure to ensure public financial accountability, Ms Smith-Lawrence told Botswana's legislative body, the PAC, that "the country appeared to be entering a fifth wave."

The permanent secretary of Botswana's Ministry of Health, Grace Muzila, also told the PAC that health officials were concerned about the recent increase in cases and admissions.

The rate of fully vaccinated people has remained stable at 62 percent for some time, according to the most recent data, while the rate of boosters has remained below 40 percent.