Africa-Press – Namibia. Hage Geingob says European countries and others that red-listed Namibia and other southern African countries for travelling after the Omicron Covid-19 variant was identified should apologise.
The president yesterday during the 38th public Covid-19 briefing said countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and 30 others should not have rushed to make decisions based on South Africa’s identification of the new variant.
The travel bans came despite the Omicron variant’s presence in the Netherlands before infected South Africans travelled to that country. Geingob yesterday revealed the UK has removed Namibia from its red list.
“Check out the science, what is the science saying? It is not just to jump and do what is called a punishment just because of South Africa’s discovery. Are you going to apologise for that?” he asked. Geingob referred to the red-listing as “white-listing” by Western countries.
“Instead of praising the scientists, they decided to put aspersions on us and randomly ban all of us. That has been lifted for us. Thank you British people, but why did you do it in the first place? It was not necessary,” Geingob said.
Geingob said the government would spare no effort to enforce further measures to protect Namibians during the pandemic. “We will therefore continue to marshal resources to fight Covid-19, and we shall do so with the same determination we have demonstrated as a government over the past 18 months,” he said.
He said Namibians should prioritise their health by getting vaccinated against Covid-19, and lightheartedly suggested there may be a time in future that establishments in the country could require vaccination cards upon entry.
NEW MEASURES Meanwhile, the government has instituted new measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. These measures will expire on 15 January. The number of people at public gatherings are now restricted to 200. Geingob said this also applies to sport events and burials.
“The government will not at this stage implement a curfew in order to allow for a better spread of public transportation and movement of persons. However, we encourage the correct wearing of masks in vehicles to avoid the spread of the virus,” he said.
Through the Ministry of Works and Transport, the government will provide public transport operators with a million masks, he said. Trading hours for the sale of alcohol remain unchanged, but can be revisited, the president said.
The validity of PCR test results for incoming travellers will be reduced to 72 hours from the time the results are produced to the time of arrival in Namibia.
Travellers (both Namibians and foreigners) who arrive with results older than 72 hours due to delayed flights or boarding would be subjected to a PCR test immediately upon arrival and quarantine at their own cost. Travellers with negative test results would be released from quarantine.
Namibians arriving with positive PCR test results, and who have not completed isolation or cannot present a de-isolation certificate, will be subjected to isolation at a facility nearest to their point of entry at their own cost.
“Namibian citizens and permit holders may enter the country with or without a 72-hour PCR test. Those who arrive without 72 hours PCR negative results will be subjected to quarantine at their own cost. The government will conduct random Covid-19 testing for persons permitted entry into Namibia at points of entry,” the president said.
CONCERNING Minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula yesterday said the epidemiological trajectory has worsened. By 13 December, Namibia has recorded a total of 133 444 confirmed Covid-19 cases, out of the 819 721 samples tested, he said.
A total of 126 148 recoveries were reported, translating to a recovery rate of 94,5%. This is a decline of 2,7% following the increase in the number of cases reported in the last two weeks.
Active cases have also drastically increased by 95,2%. There are currently 4 003 active cases in the country, while 3 578 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the pandemic.
In the past two weeks, the number of positive cases has been doubling on a daily basis, Shangula said. The highest number of cases was recorded on 10 December, with 1 041.
From 16 November to 12 December 2021, a period of 27 days, a total of 47 130 samples were tested, and 4 023 new confirmed cases were reported. This indicates a positive ratio of 8,5%, which is an increase of 83% compared to the previous 27 days.
The positivity ratio has increased from 1,9% to 8,5% over the same period. “However, the number of deaths is inversely low totalling 13 in the last 27 days, compared to 22 reported in the previous 27 days. This represents a decline of 69%.
“The number of hospitalised cases remains reasonably low. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely,” Shangula said. VACCINATION The minister announced that the daily vaccination uptake increased by 10% in one month.
“As of Monday, 388 719 people, or 25,9% of the eligible population, have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and 327 532 people, or 21,8% have been fully vaccinated,” he said.
Geingob warned that the country cannot afford to have a situation where more vaccines, “which have been acquired at great cost and effort”, sit on the shelf until they reach expiry date.
“It is simply unacceptable,” he said.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
