Marthina Mutanga
THE test results of four Swakopmund School hostel residents that presented with COVID-19 symptoms are still pending.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Utjiua Muinjangue, did not give an update on the four learners who were placed in isolation at the hostel of the Namib High School as expected, but instead reported that Namibia did not record any new cases of infection with the virus.
During a briefing at the National COVID-19 Communication Centre, Dr. Muinjangue stated that the number of people tested since Sunday increased from 4 943 to 4 970. She further indicated that the number of people placed in quarantine remained steady at 737.
“No new cases have been recorded in the country in the last 24 hours,” she said, adding that Namibia still has 31 cases, with 16 recoveries and 15 active cases.
During an announcement that the entire Erongo Region will regress back to Stage 1 of the State of Emergency from the Situation Room at State House on Monday, President Hage Geingob said the decision was informed by the high risk of communal transmission of the virus.
Dr. Geingob said the case where possible communal transmission was identified in Walvis Bay needs to be managed diligently to avoid any slip up in containing the spread.
The President cautioned the public to adhere to lockdown measures to the letter to defeat the invisible enemy.
He said the complete lockdown of the region for two weeks is necessary despite the dire economic consequences because if the management of the pandemic is mishandled, it can have dire consequences which would be far worse than the current sluggish economy.
