Covid carriers skip country
05 January 2021 | Health
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Four foreign nationals, who had entered Namibia for business purposes, escaped from isolation in Windhoek where they were held after three of them had tested positive for Covid-19.
The acting executive director in the health ministry, Petronella Masabane, said the visitors, who did not complete their mandatory isolation period, were already in South Africa when she received the tip-off.
“I immediately alerted the Oliver Tambo airport.
“They told me they were presented with negative results but I informed them that they had tested positive in Namibia. The plane was about to take off and the gate manager said he would offload them,” she said.
Reconsider policies
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku, who had facilitated the visitors' trip, expressed disappointment.
According to him the three Jordanians and one Palestinian came to the country with apparent interest in agribusiness.
“This clearly calls for a review or reconsideration of some of our policies regarding travellers to and from Namibia in respect of Covid-19 screening and isolation,” he said.
“It's also time to consider holding the passports of travellers/visitors to Namibia who test positive for Covid-19 when they are about to leave Namibia and are put in isolation in Namibia,” Haufiku added.
WINDHOEK
Four foreign nationals, who had entered Namibia for business purposes, escaped from isolation in Windhoek where they were held after three of them had tested positive for Covid-19.
The acting executive director in the health ministry, Petronella Masabane, said the visitors, who did not complete their mandatory isolation period, were already in South Africa when she received the tip-off.
“I immediately alerted the Oliver Tambo airport.
“They told me they were presented with negative results but I informed them that they had tested positive in Namibia. The plane was about to take off and the gate manager said he would offload them,” she said.
Reconsider policies
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku, who had facilitated the visitors' trip, expressed disappointment.
According to him the three Jordanians and one Palestinian came to the country with apparent interest in agribusiness.
“This clearly calls for a review or reconsideration of some of our policies regarding travellers to and from Namibia in respect of Covid-19 screening and isolation,” he said.
“It's also time to consider holding the passports of travellers/visitors to Namibia who test positive for Covid-19 when they are about to leave Namibia and are put in isolation in Namibia,” Haufiku added.
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