Africa-Press – Namibia. MINISTER of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula says the fifth wave of Covid-19 is stable as the country recorded 1 235 new cases with 202 pupils testing positive for the virus over the last seven days.
He was basing this on the daily Covid-19 reports between 28 May and 3 June.
This comes amid concerns that the vaccination rate in the country is still low more than a year after the first dose was administered at the Windhoek Central Hospital.
According to the World Health Organisation, the vaccination coverage stands at 17,3% of the population that is fully vaccinated.
Since 28 May, 2 105 first and second doses were administered.
The country entered its fifth wave of Covid-19 infections driven by the new Omicron sub-variant known as the BA.4.
Many of Namibia’s neighbours who experienced their fifth waves reported that they were driven by the confirmed BA.5 sub-variant. However, Namibia has not confirmed the presence of this sub-variant.
Shangula told The Namibian on Friday there are no new developments regarding the Omicron variants.
“The situation is currently stable. We hope it will continue this way,” Shangula said.
Last week, the minister stressed that they had observed sustained high numbers of cases over the past weeks.
“We also noted that Covid-19 patients in ICU are not vaccinated. Let us not allow the situation to get out of hand. We have means to prevent that. Let us get vaccinated,” he added.
On 27 May, the ministry reported that 135 Covid-19 positive cases were hospitalised; but this number has since dropped to 67 patients.
In addition to this, the ministry reported that the number of patients in intensive care units has been relatively low with seven beds occupied.
During the previous wave, the country recorded the highest number of cases at 1 334 on 19 December 2021.
This is double the highest number of cases observed in this wave with almost 600 cases.
The minister previously said the government is currently monitoring the Covid-19 situation as the cases had skyrocketed.
“If there is a need to adjust the regulations, we will inform the public accordingly,” Shangula said.
The minister urged members of the public to take personal responsibility to protect themselves and their families against the virus.
“By avoiding large gatherings, getting vaccinated, continue to wear masks and maintaining personal hygiene,” he added.
The ministry of health’s head of the surveillance team, Emmy-Else Ndevaetela announced last month that the country was experiencing its fifth wave.
“With our last report confirming the existence of the Omicron sub-variant called BA.4, we have different sub-variants but they are all Omicron,” she added.
Ndevaetela said the infections are still driven by the Omicron sub-variants and Namibia has so far confirmed detecting three sub-variants.
PUPILS
Among the 1 235 cases are 57 healthcare workers and 25 teachers who tested positive.
To mitigate the disruptions the Covid-19 pandemic has caused, the education ministry has introduced a two-term school year which will allow children and teachers not to go to school during winter.
VACCINATION EFFECTIVENESS
The health ministry and the World Health Organisation are busy conducting a vaccine effectiveness study among health workers in Namibia. Study participants were followed up for six months at two of the largest state hospitals in the Khomas region.
According to a WHO press statement issued last month, the medical officer in the ministry of health and co-principal investigator of the study, Natasha Nghitukwa, said the sites gave an ideal setting for a vaccine effectiveness study.
“Most of the health workers in Namibia are from the Khomas region and the two hospitals serve as a point of care for severe and critical cases referred from lower-level hospitals,” said Nghitukwa.
WHO said while the results of more studies come online, it is critical that Covid-19 vaccination continues to ramp up on the continent.
“Cases and deaths are dropping, and some may think Covid-19 is no longer a risk. However, in the face of a fifth wave in some countries, the case for Covid-19 vaccination remains strong. Research shows that unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than vaccinated people,” the statement reads.
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