Covid-19 – Page 20

03 Jul

We’re too relaxed about COVID-19

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19

Thandizo Kawerama The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Namibia has shot straight up to a whopping 293 cases and counting (as of 7/2/20), this should be alarming to us but surprisingly, it’s not. It’s business as usual for the population and I’m not too sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. We definitely should not be panicking, that’s for sure. Panicking as we all learned earlier this year, leads to overcrowded grocery stores and an unnecessary shortage of hand sanitisers and other products. These are both terrible scenarios due to the nature of transmission of the virus.…

30 Jun

Old Mutual donates Covid19 equipment

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Old Mutual

Andrew Kathindi As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country at an alarming rate, last week, Old Mutual handed over devices to the Ministry of Health and Social Services worth over N$900 000. In a bid to continue supporting the fight against COVID-19, Old Mutual donated 35 Dell laptops and 37 Samsung tablets procured at a total cost of N$ 998 030.46 to capacitate the Ministry’s surveillance system capability based on the identified and prioritised needs at national, regional and district level during and after COVID-19. “These laptops are each installed with Office Home software, Antivirus, a mouse and…

26 Jun

Bag of Hope Initiative hands over donations

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia, HOPE, RMB Namibia

Staff Writer RMB Namibia, through the HOPE initiative of FirstRand Namibia, recently handed over N$166 000 consisting of N$60 000 worth of maize, N$24 800 of pasta, N$26 400 of Weetbix, N$40 200 of cornflakes, N$4 300 of juice, and N$11 000 worth of soup packets to vulnerable families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. FirstRand Namibia established the ‘Bag of Hope’ initiative under their HOPE Fund in April 2020 and partnered with Bokomo Namibia and Co-Feed Namibia to feed the needy and the most vulnerable families in Namibia, whose impoverished situation has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Through the Bag of…

26 Jun

FNB supports Van Rhyn Primary School

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, FNB

Community Donation of N$10,000 from FNB Central Cluster Brian Kandanga through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust. Items include: Face protector shields, gloves, hand sanitizers and masks. Due to the current situation (COVID-19) the school finds itself in a very difficult financial situation. As per WHO and Namibian Government regulations, schools need to purchase items which are very costly. The school can only guarantee quality education if the learners are healthy and if measures are in place that can protect them from the current pandemic. “From the school on the hill, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to FNB…

26 Jun

Govt tourism plans unlikely

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, tourism

...as Health ministry insist on 14 day quarantine Andrew Kathindi Government’s touted plan to revive the tourism industry could be dead in the water before it has gotten off the ground after it has emerged that its requirements may be too strict. This comes after President Hage Geingob announced that part of Namibia’s stage 4 regulations, government will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative between 15 July to 15 August 2020, in collaboration with the tourism sector. Parts of the proposed measures include keeping tourists in a quarantine facility for two weeks at their own risk and cost, after…

22 Jun

German Embassy contributes to Covid-19 fight

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, German Embassy, Gobabis, Okahandja, Witvlei

Staff Writer As part of its projects to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the German Embassy will support families in need in the areas of Gobabis, Witvlei and Okahandja and a total of approximately N$ 99,600 (EUR 5,000.00) from the Embassy’s micro project fund will be made available as an immediate measure to purchase food packages. The packages include staple foods and will be distributed to the community members by the German Evangelical Lutheran Association of Okahandja-Gobabis (ELCIN - GELC) in cooperation with the Okahandja Community Forum. The Okahandja Community Forum is a civil organization in Okahandja that…

22 Jun

President bows to union pressure

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN), tudents Union of Namibia (SUN)

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Monday bowed to the demands of teacher and student unions when he announced the resumption of face-to-face classes for Pre-Primary students will be postponed for 14 days in all regions. The President’s decision comes after some unions called on the government to suspend the resumption of face-to-face teaching following confirmation of the first COVID-19 positive learner. The 20-year old Mariental secondary school learner, who is a resident of Walvis Bay, became Namibia’s 37th case and gave rise to the decision to suspend face-to-face teaching at the school. The 14 day suspension of in-school learning…

19 Jun

Lowering the bar damages our children

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, Jackie Wilson Asheeke

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I am disgusted at the ridiculous decision to drop the passing average for primary school to 35 percent. It was already obscenely low at 40 percent! I am throwing shade on any ministry of education official that agreed to reduce the passing rate percentage. I am insulted to read officials blaming this outrageous decision on COVID-19. That doesn't work! Step up and take your tomatoes in the face for this bad decision that hurts our children. Whether you realize it or not, our children are smarter than you think! The issue around low scores is less to…

19 Jun

NAC HQ placed under lockdown

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, NAC, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The negative effects of Case 33 who was arrested by police for entering the country illegally are being felt by various organisations in Windhoek, with the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) becoming the third organisation this week to lockdown its building as part of precautionary measures against Covid-19. According the airports operator, one of its employees resides in the same building, 77 on Independence, where the Covid-19 positive suspect was arrested. “This decision comes after careful consideration of the possible risk of exposure,” NAC Chief Executive Officer, Bisey Uirab said. On Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture was also forced…

19 Jun

Walvis Bay records five more cases

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health, Walvis Bay

….as 10-year old becomes youngest case Andrew Kathindi Namibia has recorded its single biggest jump in one day for COVID-19 positive cases, after the Minister of Health, Kalumbi Shangula, on Friday evening announced five new cases from Walvis Bay. This is in addition to the 40th case, a Namibian male from Kuisebmund, whom the minister announced in the morning (Friday), bringing the total number of cases in the country to 45. All five new cases have been in contact with case 34, the 39-year old female, who is an officer at the Walvis Bay Correctional Services. “Case number 41 is…