Niël Terblanché
THE capital city of Namibia has taken a break from being the epicentre of new infections with SARS-CoV2 in Namibia after the highest number of new cases was recorded in the Otjozondjupa Region.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula said that 1 084 new cases were recorded in Namibia since Sunday. Of that number 265 were registered in the Otjozondjupa Region, 261 in the Hardap Region, 216 in the Khomas Region, 154 in the Erongo Region, 83 in the Karas Region, 27 in the Kunene Region, 22 in the Zambezi Region, 18in the Kavango East Region, 14 in the Oshikoto Region, eight in the Oshana Region, four in the Ohangwena Region, and two new cases were recorded in the Kavango West Region.
He indicated that the 1 084 people that received positive test results were part of a specimen batch of 2 597 and added that it constitutes an extremely high positivity ratio of 42%.
“Only 20of the people that had positive test results received the first dose of the available vaccines. This represents a 2% ratio of the positive test results,” he said.
According to Dr. Shangula, 808 people received certification of their recovery from COVID-19 which means that the active cases under the management of health officials increased to 14 092.
“Of that number 516 people were hospitalised and 90 are receiving critical care in the intensive care units of hospitals in the Khomas, Erongo, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, and Karas regions.
The health minister also announced the deaths of 15 people.
He said that five of the deaths ascribed to COVID-19 occurred in the Keetmanshoop health district, three each in the Windhoek, Grootfontein, and Okahandja health districts, and one in the health district of Otjiwarongo.
According to the statistics provided by the minister 12 of the fatalities were not vaccinated while the vaccination status of the remaining three deceased persons is unknown.
The cumulative number of deaths ascribed to COVID-19 currently stands at 1 179.
He said that 104 530 people have had the first shot of the vaccine while 19 930 have been fully vaccinated.
He thanked all the people that went for the inoculation with the available antigens and gave the assurance that the ministry is working tirelessly to ensure that every person can get vaccinated.
“We can overcome this pandemic if we all get vaccinated and we all have a role to play in doing so,” he said.
He said the fight against the pandemic starts with the basic acts of washing hands, wearing masks, and avoiding large gatherings.
“This is something we must all do. We must stop the spread of COVID-19 in Namibia,” he concluded.
