Covid-19 – Page 19 – Windhoek Observer

31 Jul

Govt bureaucracy risks lives at Katutura School

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Katutura school

Staff reporter A Katutura school, llGaroeb Primary School, still remains open due to government’s bureaucratic processes despite a teacher having tested positive for COVID-19. This risks the health and lives of learners, teachers and their immediate families. Information gleaned by the Windhoek Observer reveals that a school teacher who had been ill after developing COVID-19 symptoms came to the school on Tuesday to sign her leave form. “She came to the school on Tuesday to fill in her sick leave application form, after the principal called her in to do so. Before that, she was coming to the school the…

25 Jul

The three musketeers jammin’ with beats

ObserverUncategorisedAzaria, Covid-19, The Musketeers

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Namibians will not let COVID-19 destroy creativity and the need to jam. A new group with hot beats just formed in 2020. They are called: The Musketeers. In the midst of a pandemic and lockdown, they are making music. Even if we dance alone in our homes or in socially-distanced venues, check out their new release, titled LOST featuring Azaria. Radio stations need to get on board with this music as well. Their new album has 10 tracks all exclusively written, recorded and mastered by The Musketeers and Azaria, a female artist new on the scene from…

25 Jul

Recommit to being COVID-19 aware

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19

It is human nature that doing something repetitively makes us numb. We begin to slip on the details, cut corners and take things for granted. We think that with seven Namibians dead due to the pandemic and our confirmed active cases skyrocketing, it is time to recommit to protective measures to battle COVID-19. We must jolt ourselves awake again and be alert and aware about keeping safe and making sure others around us are safe too. Protective measures against a pandemic require diligence. It is easy to be on alert for a few days or even a few weeks, but…

22 Jul

Erongo teachers, learners defy ministry directive

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Education, NANTU

Andrew Kathindi Teachers and learners in the towns of Walvis Bay, Arandis and Swakopmund have defied the Ministry of Education’s directive for schools to reopen this week for face-to-face learning for grades 11 and 12. This comes after Windhoek Observer reported that schools in the regions were unlikely to open after the Education ministry and the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) failed to reach a consensus on the modalities of returning to schools, due to concerns over the rising cases of COVID-19 in the region. It appears the Ministry may have overestimated the level of united positions amongst all schools…

22 Jul

We could have prevented this – Haufiku

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The situation Namibia is in, and in particular, Walvis Bay, could have been avoided had preparations been done earlier, this according to former Health Minister, Dr Bernard Haufiku. The former minister, who at the beginning of the pandemic in Namibia was appointed as the National Coordinator for COVID-19, a decision that was later rescinded, told Windhoek Observer that he presented several scenarios to curb the spread of COVID-19 in April however all fell on deaf ears. This comes as the country has recorded 36 new cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 1,402 positive cases and seven deaths.…

21 Jul

Geingob rules out Erongo trip

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Erongo region, president Hage Geingob

….as deaths toll rises Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has ruled out any planned trip for himself and members of his executive, including Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula to the Erongo region, but will instead dispatch four deputy ministers to access the impact of COVID-19 on the community. The four, Deputy minister of Health, Esther Muinjangue, Deputy minister of Labour, Hafeni Ndemula, Deputy minister of Urban and Rural Development, Derek Klazen and Deputy minister of Safety and Security, Daniel Kashikola, will be the first high level government delegation to visit the region which has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak…

21 Jul

FNB branches revert to rotational operations model

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, FNB Namibia

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has announced that their branches will revert to the rotational operations model for the foreseeable future. “This means that every branch will operate on a 50 percent staff capability only, in order to curb branch activities, thereby assisting government in containing the spread of the virus,” said Rodney Forbes, FNB Executive Officer: Points of Presence. “The spread of COVID-19 is still ongoing and even increasing in some parts of the country. As a responsible corporate citizen, we wish to play our part in limiting the exposure of both our clients and staff to the possibility of…

21 Jul

Alcohol a burden to police

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga

. . . as COVID-19 cases spike Andreas Kathindi The resumption of the alcohol sale in stage 3 and 4 of the state of emergency has been a burden on law enforcement according to head of police, Sebastian Ndeitunga. This comes as South Africa re-banned the selling of alcohol in that country following a spike in COVID-19 cases that has seen it become one of the countries with the highest COVID-19 cases in the world. “It’s a burden to the police. People are just supposed to introspect themselves and ensure self-discipline, and abide to the rules passed to protect their…

21 Jul

COVID death headaches

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi Government has again been caught ill prepared when it comes to the COVID-19 issue, as it emerged that no contingency plans were made in case the country recorded deaths. This comes as the country as of today (Monday) had now recorded four deaths according to the Ministry of Health, with thirteen cases extremely critical and in need of oxygen support. This comes as the Walvis Bay community has been up in arms with the local authority over its decision to bury the first COVID-19 death in the town. The Ministry leading the COVID-19 task force maintained its role…

17 Jul

Walvis Bay, Swakop classes to resume

ObserverObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Covid-19, Ministry of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, Swakopmund and Arandis, Walvis Bay

Staff Writer Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has announced that face-to-face classes for grade 11 and 12 in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis will resume on Monday, the 20th of July despite rising cases of COVID-19 in some of the towns. Walvis Bay is currently the epicenter of COVID-19 cases in the country with 40 out of the 46 cases recorded on Friday being from the costal town. On Wednesday, of the 72 new cases recorded, two were from Swakopmund and 68 were from Walvis Bay. Executive Director in the Education ministry, Sanet Steenkamp said although the return of…