Staff Writer
Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula has revealed that Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Deputy Prime minister and Minister of International Relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah are currently self-isolating at their homes as part of COVID-19 precautionary measures.
According the Health minister, the Prime Minister took the measures after coming into contact with a positive case, while Nandi-Ndaitwah self-isolated after a staff member at her ministry tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Deputy Prime minister is also at home isolating. She did not test positive, but it’s because of the case of one of the staff members. The Prime Minister is also isolating as a precautionary measure and it does not mean she tested positive,” he said.
The announcement comes after Secretary to Cabinet, George Simataa who works closely with the Prime minister, tested positive for COVID-19.
“He is home isolating. Arrangements at Cabinet are such that coronavirus exposure is limited,” Shangula said.
The minister said that he and staff from his ministry are set to be tested and their offices evacuated and fumigated after a staff member who had attended a wedding, tested positive.
“One employee travelled to a wedding and tested positive for Covid-19 on return. The building is closed off for fumigation and cleaning to be conducted. The rest of the staff would be tested,” Shangula said.
He also revealed that four deputy ministers, Esther Muinjangue (Health) Hafeni Ndemula (Labour), Derek Klazen (Urban and Rural Development), and Daniel Kashikola (Safety and Security) that had visited the Erongo region as part of high level government delegation in June were also currently under quarantine.
“They were placed there after their trip to Walvis Bay,” he said.
The announcement of the ministers’ isolation comes after high ranking members of the judiciary, Chief Justice Peter Shivute, members of the judiciary and legal fraternity also went into self-isolation after attending the book launch of Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb, where one of the event organizers tested positive for COVID-19.
The event was attended by 100 guests, including six judges, four ministers and the country’s top lawyers.
