Health ministry cautions public on new Covid-19 cases

The ministry of health and social services has cautioned the public to take precautionary measures against Covid-19.

This comes after the ministry recorded 28 new active Covid-19 cases and three hospitalisations in the Oshana, /Kharas and Erongo regions.

This was announced by the health ministry’s executive director, Ben Nangombe, on Wednesday afternoon in a statement.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation, including through genomic surveillance for the prompt detection of possible emerging variants,” he said.

Nangombe further cautioned members of the public to refrain from sharing unverified and outdated information about Covid-19 on social and other media platforms.

“Even after repealing the regulations in July 2022, our commitment to public health surveillance remains unwavering,” he said.

Nangombe emphasised the continuation of testing and record-keeping activities by the ministry.
Nangombe revealed that over the past 12 months, Namibia had witnessed a steady plateau in Covid-19 cases, with an average of fewer than 106 cases per month nationwide.

However, he acknowledged the recent localised outbreak in Rehoboth, stating: “In the face of this localised outbreak, our priority is to manage cases effectively, adhering to established guidelines.”

Nangombe reassured the public that there have been no severe illnesses or hospitalisations resulting from this specific surge.

“The responsibility now lies with each member of the public to remain vigilant against Covid-19 and other infections,” Nangombe emphasised, underlining the shift in responsibility since the repeal of regulations.

“While Namibia is no longer classified as a public health emergency, sporadic cases persist,” warned Nangombe.