âââ 11:12 Thu, 07 Jan 2021
PHOTO: Prasesh Shiwakoti lomash/Unsplash
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) testing centre at the border post between Ficksburg and Lesotho drastically dropped testing prices to accommodate Lesotho citizens after experiencing an ongoing influx of people needing COVID-19 tests.
Originally, since the start of the festive season, the South African government decided that only people with authentic, negative COVID-19 results not older than 72 hours were permitted to cross the border, however, many could not afford this.
A meeting was then arranged with the Lesotho Minister of Health, Motlatsi Maqelepo, concluding that the Lesotho border will commence with rapid testing using replicated NHLS test kits. The government is therefore only accepting authentic negative test results and screening permits at the border.