For anyone interested, things regarding Covid testing for entering Namibia took a step in the right direction today. The Pres, released a statement that effective 16 Mar 2022 proof of a negative RT-PCR is will no longer be required for those who can provide proof they are fully jabbed.
Tried to attach the pdf file of his statement but it is too large to attach so, cutting/pasting it below for anyone wishing to read it in full. Only potential problem MIGHT be being able to board an international flight or transit country X without a negative RT-PCR test.
I'm still hopeful, all this madness will end before the bulk of the seasonal hunters/tourist go. He mentions the impact to the countries heavily dependent tourism industry. At least he openly recognizes it. Unfortunately, he's making the changes too late to have much if any beneficial impact so late in the year when most have already made other vacation/hunting/travel plans.
THE PRESIDENCY
STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY DR. HAGE G. GEINGOB,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
ON THE OCCASSION OF THE 41ST COVID-19 PUBLIC
BRIEFING ON THE NATIONAL RESPONSE MEASURES
15 March 2022 WINDHOEK
*Check Against Delivery.
1
Good afternoon fellow Namibians and welcome
to the 41st COVID-19 Public Briefing.
The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving. Recently,
classification of the outbreak has been adjusted by
the World Health Organisation from a pandemic to
an endemic disease. In Namibia, the recovery rate
from COVID-19 now stands at 97 percent, with a
Case Fatality Rate of 2,5 percent. Statistics
further indicate that at 14 March 2022, the active
cases stood at 222. As the nation may recall, there
was a time during July 2021 when the active cases
in the country were much higher, peaking at an
all-time high of 27,046 (twenty-seven-thousandand-forty-six) active infections in the country.
However, the reclassification of the outbreak to
endemic should not give us a false sense of
security. We must continue to be vigilant and alert
to further control the spread and the upsurge in
new cases.
2
The magnitude of the challenge we continue to
face is large and we must be ready to mount an
effective response. To protect the most
vulnerable members of our society and to bolster
the capacity of our healthcare system so as to
respond to new infections as they occur, we still
require strong measures and interventions to
reduce the spread of new infections.
During the last 30-day Observance Period, the
positivity ratio declined from 7 percent to 2
percent rate of new infections, from the total
number of samples tested, countrywide. There
has equally been a corresponding decline in
deaths, with a total of 19 deaths recorded during
the Period, from COVID-19 or related illnesses.
One death from COVID-19 however, is one death
too many. I have been relieved lately by the daily
update reports that indicated zero deaths over the
past week or so.
3
I pay tribute to our frontline workers, particularly
the healthcare workers whose valiant fight to
contain spread of the disease have achieved a
measure of success.
Economic data reveals that the volume of foreign
tourist arrivals remain at only one third of what
they were in 2019. This means that the
employment-intensive tourism sector which
provides direct and indirect employment to
approximately 150,000 Namibians, is still in
recession.
Vaccination remains one of the most effective
measures in our multi-faceted National Response
against COVID-19. It not only reduces individual
chances of developing severe illness,
hospitalization and death, but can also help to
restore economic activity particularly in the
adversely affected tourism sector.
4
As of today March 15, 2022, nationally, only 21.4
percent of the country’s eligible population is fully
vaccinated. This is one third of the WHO
recommended population coverage of 60 percent
to achieve national herd immunity.
The Government has procured adequate
vaccination stock and our country has also
benefitted from the generosity of friendly nations,
having received large consignments of donated
vaccines. Such valuable and scarce resources
should not be allowed to waste by expiring on our
shelves. I, therefore, reiterate my call for all
eligible Namibians to get vaccinated and for those
who have already received initial jabs, to get their
booster shots, so as to ensure that the immunity
does not wane, especially as we face the winter
months.
5
The approaching winter, when people tend to be
confined indoors, pose a natural risk to the spread
of respiratory diseases. We must therefore remain
vigilant to prevent the spread of new infection
that could overwhelm our healthcare system.
Fellow Namibians,
The current Regulations are due to expire
tomorrow. The following new Public Health
Regulations will come into force from midnight, 16
March 2022, for a period of 30 days until 15 April
2022.
1.Wearing of masks in public places is no longer
mandatory. However, people who are in close
settings, such as public transport, indoor
public meetings are encouraged to wear
masks. Physical distance of no less than 1
meter must be maintained between persons at
all times;
6
2.With regards to the size of Public Gatherings,
for the next dispensation, the size of Public
Gatherings will be adjusted from 500 to 1,000
people. This will be applicable to all social
gatherings as defined in the Regulations,
including weddings, funerals, church services
and sporting events;
3.Fully vaccinated travellers are no longer
required to produce a negative PCR test result
upon arrival at a Namibian Points of Entry, but
are instead required to present an authentic,
valid vaccination card at Point of Entry.
Fellow Namibians,
A reprieve does not mean the end of the pandemic.
We must continue to care for ourselves and the
vulnerable members of our society who are more
susceptible, by continuing to protect ourselves so
that new clusters of infection do not form.
7
The abolishment of the mandatory face mask
mandate, does not mean the abolishment of
common-sense. On the contrary common-sense
must continue to prevail.
The Government will continue to do its part and
complete the new projects brought on stream, to
ensure our public health sector is sufficiently
capacitated. Let us apply good judgment at all
times, in our personal and public conduct and
avoid recklessness that could lead to the reversal
of the many gains and successes achieved to date.
We can surely overcome this pandemic by working
together, as members of one house, the Namibian
House. I now invite the Minister of Health and
Social Services to provide further details on the
updated Regulations.
I thank you.
