According to Botswana's health authorities, a single Covid fatality was reported in Botswana on Monday, the first in the country in four months.

The incident took place in Jwaneng, around 200 kilometres from the capital Gaborone, the hardest hit by the resurgence of Covid cases in Botswana, says the country's Ministry of Health spokesperson, Christopher Nyanga.

"A campaign to test more people in the Jwaneng area has been intensified following the recording of the related death," the spokesperson commented.

The news of the fatality highlights the threats stemming from new sub-variants of the Omicron variant - the sub-lineages of so-called BQ. 1 and BQ. 1.1 - that have sparked Botswana's related fatality count since the resurgence of the pandemic, Nyanga stated. 

The sub-variants of Covid's Omicron variant were detected in Botswana in December, say reports, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Omicron is still the dominant variant circulating across the globe. 

"While we are looking at a vast genetic diversity of Omicron sub-lineages, they currently display similar clinical outcomes, but with differences in immune escape potential," the WHO said last month.

"The two (BQ.1 and BQ.1.1) are sub-lineages of the existing BA.5 Omicron variant that has been dominant in Botswana for the last few months and has additional changes to the virus," Nyanga went on to say. "The Ministry of Health advises Botswana and all residents to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures of protection," the Ministry of Health spokesperson continued.

As of Monday, a total of 328,190 Covid cases have been reported in Botswana, and 2,787 fatalities, with a recovery rate of 99.2%.