Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIANS will starting a minute past midnight, 16 October, once again enjoy unlimited travel and around the clock freedom after President Hage Geingob lifted movement restrictions all together.
This is the first time since the president first introduced curfew last year due to rising numbers of Covid-19 infections and deaths that the country has complete freedom of movement.
Giving an update on the National Response measures on the Covid-19 pandemic at the 36th public briefing at State House today, Geingob stated that i information and data gathered by the National Covid-19 Dashboard Monitoring Cluster for the period from 16 September 2021 to yesterday, 14 October 2021, indicates that Namibia has been experiencing a marked decline in the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.
As such, Geingob gave an update on more relaxed public health regulations, which include the suspension of curfew. “The curfew will be suspended altogether, allowing for greater economic activity, particularly with respect to long haul public transport operators and the entertainment industry,”
Geingob said. The current Covid-19 Public Health Regulations will expire at midnight tonight, Friday, 15 October 2021, with new regulations coming that will last for 30 days from Saturday, 16 October 2021, until midnight, Monday, 15 November 2021.
Under the new regulations, Public Gatherings as defined in the regulations have been adjusted to 200 persons per event. Spectators at sporting events are also permitted to gather up to 200 persons per event.
“Having just returned from America, I have observed that those packing the stadium for sports have their vaccine passports. I therefore hope those who will attend, will do the same,” Geingob said.
Furthermore, the president said that the restrictions relating to liquor remain as is. All recreational places such as nightclubs, casinos, gambling houses, betting houses and gyms may continue operations as is by allowing patrons only up to half capacity.
Burials of persons who succumbed to Covid-19 or whose deaths are Covid-19 related must continue to take place within a period of 10 days. On-site consumption of meals at all gatherings, including burials, will now be permitted.
The restriction on the number of persons attending burials of 200, applies to mourners only, excluding essential workers. Geingob added that the subsiding number of cases is attributable to a number of factors, particularly public compliance to the Covid-19 Public Health Regulations.
He added that the Covid-19 vaccination coverage is showing signs of progress, especially in the regions that have borne the brunt of the pandemic historically, such as Hardap, //Kharas, /Khomas and Erongo.
“During the period, we recorded an average vaccine uptake of 2,871 doses per day. This figure has declined compared to the daily uptake a month ago. There is need to do more in this regard and get more people vaccinated,” he said.
Nationally, vaccination coverage currently stands at 19.5% of the total population for those who have received their first dose, while 15% of the population, today, are fully vaccinated.
