greater vigilance. It calls for all of us to take personal responsibility to suppress the spread
of new infections. While our country has done relatively well, it will be self-defeating if
we let our guard down now. It is pleasing that we continue to improve local laboratory
testing capacity for COVID-19. In addition to bringing more laboratories on board, we
have also established capacity for genome sequencing at the University of Namibia.
Genome sequencing conducted at UNAM indicate that the Variant of Concern (VOC),
initially discovered in South Africa (B.1.351), is present in 60% of the samples analysed
in Febrary. The Variant of Concern, B.1.1.7 initially discovered in the UK was detected
in three of the samples analysed. Going forward, we will utilize this scientific capacity as
part of our national response and preparedness against COVID-19.
7. Namibia will do well to learn lessons from other countries, where the pandemic has
overwhelmed health systems. The onus of responsibility rests upon all of us as a nation
to prevent such horrific scenarios. We can do it by complying with the public health
measures that have been put in place. We can do it by making the preventive and hygiene
practices part and parcel of our daily lives. This is particularly important as we approach
the winter season where people tend to be close together in close settings and where
influenza illnesses tend to proliferate.
8. The central message has been and continues to be that, in all that we do, we must always
aim to protect both the lives and livelihoods of our people as the rationale for our response.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors of our economy is grave.
Therefore, it is critical that we return our national economy on the trajectory of growth. It
is for this reason that we continue to review the measures put in place cognizant of the
fact that our society and our economy has been hurt by the impact of the pandemic.
9. At this occasion and before the expiry of the Public Health Regulations that came into
force on the 1 April 2021, and which will expire at midnight on the 30 April 2021, I will
share with the nation the amended measures to come into force at 00:00 on the 1 May
2021 and to lapse at midnight on the 31 May 2021. As I stated at this venue on 31st March
2021, the COVID-19 epidemiological curve has not shown a downward trajectory to the
levels where we can say, our country is out of the woods, as far as COVID-19 infections,
related illnesses and deaths are concerned. In other words, we are still far from sustainably
flattening the curve.
10. Let me reiterate also again that at present, the number of new infections in our country
remains high. Infections are being reported on a daily basis from all regions around the
country. The Basic Reproductive Ratio (R0), or the rate at which a single infection
multiplies or give rise to other new infections, stands at 0.94 for the Epidemiological Week
16 or the week from 19th to 25th April 2021. For Epidemiological Week 15 (12th to 18th
April), the Basic Reproductive Ratio (R0) stood at 1.3. We have thus recorded a slight
decrease in this figure. Ideally, the Basic Reproductive Ratio (R0) should be less than one
(1). Unfortunately, current data available indicates that COVID-19 transmission in our
communities is continuing across the country.
11. It is from this vantage point that the National COVID-19 Dashboard Monitoring Team
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