SITREP 9


SITREP 9



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Ministry of Health and Social Services
Republic of Namibia
Y OWrorgladnizHaetailotnh
NAMIBIA
COVID-19
Distr
Region
Country affected
Date & Time of
report
Prepared by
26 March 2020 00:00
Surveillance team
Investigation start date
Date of outbreak declaration in Namibia: 14 March 2020.
Windhoek
Khomas
Namibia
13 March 2020
e No new confirmed case reported on 26 March 2020. Two suspected cases were
identified in Karas region. They are husband and wife with travel history to Kinshasa,
DRC.
e Cumulatively, 8 cases reported; (7 confirmed cases in Windhoek; RT-CPR for COVID-
19) and 1 confirmed case in Aus, Luderitz district).
e Case number 7 was reported late on 24 March 2020. Contact tracing is ongoing.
e Case number 8 was the probable case, with positive result on 25 march 2020
e Thematic group meetings continue to be held daily, since the 14 March 2020
e Training on Surveillance SOPs completed successfully in Windhoek (25-26 March
2020)
e Key Challenges include:
o Inadequate isolation and quarantine facilities, human resources and material supplies
including PPE, ICU units and ventilators.
= Description of the latest cases
= Index cases: Two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Windhoek
district on 13 March 2020. The married couple; a 35year-old male and a 25-year-
old female, arrived from Madrid, Spain on 11 February 2020.
= Case number 7, a 46-year-old male French national, who arrived on 13 march and
tested on 23 March 2020 at Aus. The results were reported on the night of 24 March
2020.
= Case number 8, a 69-year-old male, German national, who has traveled in the
region since 28 FEB with last arrival in Windhoek from Victoria Falls on 11 MAR
is in self-isolation on a farm in Windhoek. His indeterminate results were
confirmed positive on 25 MAR 2020.
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Table 1: Cases by reporting region
Reporting region
Khomas
Karas
Self-report (Tested in SA)
Total
Number of cases
6
1
1
8
= Number of Laboratory confirmed cases: 8
= Alive and dead: 0 death and 8 cases alive
Contact Tracing Summary
Table 2: Contacts tracing summary as of 26.03.2020
Contact risk level
Variables
High
Medium
Low
Potential number of contacts
(discharged contacts included)
Number of contact reached
sNesudmoaby er of contact monitored
1e
16
(1280%)
13
10
7 (62_%%)
60
46
25 (60%5 )
Number of contact that
2
0
1
developed signs & symptoms
Number of contact with signs
and symptoms tested
1
2
4
sNi,ugmnsbearnd
of contact
symptoms
without
tested
3
0
1
Number of contacts discharged | 1
4
18
Total
89
72
44 (67%°. )
3
7
4
23
4. LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
= The samples of 5 confirmed cases were taken by Path-Care and tested in South
Africa, while 2 confirmed cases were taken and tested by NIP. An additional
confirmed case was tested in South Africa and received positive result in Namibia.
The turnaround time range between 2 to 5 days for test done by Path-care, while for
test by NIP is 2 days.
= As of26 March 2020, a total of 222 COVID-19 specimens were recorded in the two
laboratories (NIP and Path-care) as per table below:
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Table 3: COVID-19 specimens recorded in at NIP and Path care as of 26.03.2020
As of 26/03/2020
Laborator
Total
NIP
*Path care | South Africa
TCoatbaelraionssample sent to the 70
152
0
222
Total sample tested
59
122,
0
181
Total results received
46
iT
0
163
Total results positive
2
5
*i
8
Total results negative
44
113
0
157
Total results pending
9
29
0
38
New cases
0
0
0
0
*] Patient specimen collected and tested in South Africa
*No update received on 26.03.2020 from Pathcare
o COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP:
= National Health Emergency Management Committee on COVID-19 response was
activated on 14 March 2020.
= The outbreak was declared by Hon. Minister of Health on 14 March 2020.
= The Ministry continue to conduct press briefing as the situation progress. Last press
briefing conducted on 24 March 2020.
= Coordination meetings are held daily
= His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob declared a lockdown of Khomas Region and
Erongo Region effective as of midnight 27 March 2020.
o SURVEILLANCE:
= Training on surveillance and contact trancing have been completed successfully,
25-26 March 2020. Sixty-five (65) participants were involved a training with
practical exercises to enable to practice case investigation and completion of
different forms.
= Daily pillar and interpillar meetings are held to discuss daily progress, gaps and way
forward;
= Contact trancing is ongoing
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Case definitions as of 20 March 2020:
Suspect case:
A. A patient with acute respiratory illness (fever and at least one sign/symptom of
respiratory disease, e.g., cough, shortness of breath), AND a history of travel to or
residence in a location reporting community transmission of COVID-19 disease
during the 14 days prior to symptom onset;
OR
B. A patient with any acute respiratory illness AND having been in contact with a
confirmed or probable COVID-19 case (see definition of contact) in the last 14
days prior to symptom onset;
OR
C. A patient with severe acute respiratory illness (fever and at least one
sign/symptom of respiratory disease, e.g., cough, shortness of breath; AND
requiring hospitalization) AND in the absence of an alternative diagnosis that fully
explains the clinical presentation.
Probable case: A suspect case for whom testing for COVID-19 is inconclusive.
Inconclusive being the result of the test reported by the laboratory
Confirmed case: A person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection,
irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms.
o CASE MANAGEMENT
There are 8 confirmed cases to date. All cases are within the Khomas Region,
except case #7 in Kharas Region
All cases exhibit either mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
As of 26 March 2020, all patients are stable.
Case #8 is in self-isolation at home and is stable. Otherwise all other cases are
admitted in isolation facilities (case #3 in Whk central isolation, case # 7 at
keetmashoop & the rest are at HKIA isolation).
Robert Mugabe Clinic in Windhoek is functioning 24 hours.
Training on COVID-19 is ongoing
Robert Mugabe Clinic hosts daily training sessions on PPE and collecting
specimens since 18 March 2020. We also have ZOOM lectures every week. Next
ZOOM meeting is 27 March 2020.
o LOGISTICS:
Screening point being set up at the PHEOC for visitors and employees
Set up a mobile clinic at quarantine facility in Windhoek
Installation of Ventilators and ICU monitors at Robert Mugabe Clinic
Facilitation the allocation of quarantine facilities in the country

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Country coordination and communication related challenges (beyond MoHSS) for
implementing IMS and multi-sectoral coordination still facing some bottlenecks.
Lack of fully equipped isolation facilities in the regions at health facilities and points
of entry in the regions.
Insufficient Personal Protective Equipment/clothing.
Insufficient isolation facilities
Delay in receiving lab results sent to South Africa
Need for improving country coordination, planning and monitoring,
Finalization of all relevant SOPs per pillar
Need for complete Rapid Response Team
Fully equip National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre
All positive cases must be isolation centres.
Make use of NIP services and ensure specimens collected are of good quality and
persons tested meet case definition.
Cleared by:
Incident Manager
Date: 27.03.2020
See
Secretariat
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