15 prisoners potentially exposed to virus

JEMIMA BEUKESWINDHOEKAt least 15 prisoners in Walvis Bay are suspected to have been exposed to Covid-19 and may be subjected to quarantine and mandatary testing, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said yesterday.He added that a multi-disciplinary group had been sent to the Erongo Region to reinforce the management control in the region, and at the same time targeted testing will be expanded in the region.Shangula added that no extraordinary changes will be made to the current testing and only those at risk will be tested.“We have zoomed in on specific groups such as journalists, health workers and people in correctional facilities. The prisoners that were potentially exposed will be handled professionally and if it is warranted, they will be quarantined,” he said.Namibia has so far recorded 39 Covid-19 cases, with more than 10 of these cases being reported in Walvis Bay alone.These include two prison wardens, two hospital staff members, truck drivers as well as shippers.Since March this year, Namibia has tested a total of 6 355 people.The world has now recorded more than eight million cases of Covid-19 with neighbouring South Africa standing at just above 80 400 cases and 1 674 deaths.TestingMeanwhile the presidential advisor on health-related affairs, Dr Bernard Haufiku, says it would be ideal to test as many people as possible.“This is the only way we can have concrete facts of the pandemic epidemiology and be in a better position to deal with data-based testing, which should be our guiding compass. “I would be happy if by now, three months since our first case was reported, we at least could have tested even just 0.5% of the population, which is roughly 12 500 people. This would have given us a little bit of better confidence with our response,” he said.Haufiku added that the availability of testing reagents and transport media for samples has been a challenge.According to him laboratories have struggled to source adequate supply of these items simply because suppliers are overwhelmed with orders.“Many countries actually have put a ban on the export of items and we are told the waiting queue has been getting longer and longer. I am pleased to see that both NIP and Pathcare are doing the testing. We need this collaboration and supporting each other in this national response to the effect that no one should be left out and we must all do this for Namibia,” he said.jemima@namibiansun.com

15 prisoners potentially exposed to virus

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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15 prisoners potentially exposed to virus

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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