Update on CoVid-19 05 April 2020


Update on CoVid-19 05 April 2020



1 Page 1

▲back to top


REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
Ministry of Health and Social Services
Private Bag 13198
Windhoek
Namibia
Ministerial Building
Harvey Street
Windhoek
PRESS STATEMENT
Tel: (061) 203 2054
Fax: (061) 301 018
Public.Relations@mhss.gov.na
05 April 2020
Update on COVID-19 in Namibia.
As I stated a few days ago, we continue to draw samples from suspected individuals in
order to determine whether they are infected or not. As of today the 5" April 2020, two
more positive cases of Covid-19 were reported. This brings the total number of confirmed
cases in Namibia to sixteen (16). I take this opportunity to commend our medical
professionals for their dedication and hard work. They are literally, the tip of the spear in
this war against an invisible enemy. They are serving this nation, detecting, treating and
caring for the COVID-19 patients.
To date, the number of suspected COVID -19 samples taken in Namibia and submitted to
laboratories in Namibia and South Africa for testing stands at 362. Of these, two hundred
and six (206) were submitted to the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) and 156 were
submitted to PathCare, which in turn sends the samples to South Africa for testing. I will
now explain the two latest cases I mentioned earlier.
Case No 15 is a 31-year old Namibian male who had close contact with a friend from South
Africa from the 26 March 2020. The friend had since returned to South Africa. This
contact reported at Robert Mugabe Clinic on 30 March 2020, with complains of cough,
body pain, sore throat, and shortness of breath. He was tested and the results came out
positive on 4 April 2020. He is a teacher by profession. He has been isolated. His
condition is satisfactory.
Case No 16 is a 46-year-old medical practitioner who traveled to SA. He presented himself
at Robert Mugabe Clinic on 30 March 2020 with complaints of fever, chill, body pain, and
sore throat. The specimen was taken and the test came out positive on 4 April 2020. He
is in isolation. His condition is satisfactory.
Globally, health care workers are at increased risk of contracting infectious diseases
because when the patient first present at the health facility, one may not know if the person
is infected or not. Therefore, employers must ensure that health workers are well protected
and taken care of, by providing adequate and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment

2 Page 2

▲back to top


(PPE) and well trained on their correct use. Equally, health care workers are cautioned to
take extra precautions and treat each patient as a high-risk case.
I am pleased that all sections of the government are fully involved in combating this
pandemic. We appreciate support received from private sector and business fraternity.
This gesture is very welcomed as the impact of this devastating situation cut across all
sectors of the society. We would like to see political parties playing a part in educating
their members and supporters, especially with the observance of measures which are put
in place to contain the disease.
As a reminder, all Namibians should be adherent to the regulations described during the
declaration of a National State of Emergency on 17 March 2020. The public is encouraged
to avoid crowded places, wash hands with soap and running water, avoid touching faces,
and stay away from other people when sick. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever,
cough, and difficulty breathing.
I thank you.