Covid-19 – Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

30 Apr

Second COVID-19 variant discovered

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Minsiter, Kalumbi Shangula, Variant of Concern (VOC)

Andrew Kathindi Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Minsiter, Kalumbi Shangula, has revealed that Namibia has uncovered another COVID-19 variant. According to the Minister, the discovery is of a United Kingdom (UK) variant of the virus.“The Variant of Concern, B.1.1.7 initially discovered in the UK was detected in three of the samples analysed.”In March this year, the Minister confirmed the presence of the 501.V2, a variant that was discovered in South Africa last year. The Minister in December last year suspected the presence of the variant in the country; however, his fears were only confirmed when delayed samples sent to South…

29 Apr

Namibia approves Sputnik V vaccine imports

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Sputnik V

Rose-Mary Haufiku Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, has confirmed that Namibia is moving ahead to import the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Although the minister was not clear as to how many doses the country will be importing, he confirmed that the ministry was moving ahead with the procurement which is supposed to aid the existing COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Shangula said he can’t exactly say when the vaccines will be imported into the country since “it’s a procurement process, so it’s still ongoing. We haven’t seen any deliveries.” On how many doses of Sputnik…

28 Apr

Namibia lags behind in herd immunity target

ObserverObserver MoneyChina, Covid-19, Government

Rose-Mary Haufiku It’s going to take Government nine years to reach 1,700 000 people it has targeted to vaccinate across the whole country. This is because the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has to date vaccinated 14,069 people against COVID-19 since the rollout began on 19 March. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula, previously stated that Namibia would need to vaccinate 70 percent of its estimated 2.5 million population to reach herd immunity. Herd immunity (population immunity) is the indirect defense against an infectious disease that occurs when a population has gained immunity to the disease, either by vaccination or…

21 Apr

Boarding, High schools fingered for spiking COVID-19 cases

ObserverObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Covid-19, Ministry of Education

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Boarding and high schools have been fingered as the main culprits in the spread of Covid-19, amid a spike in learner cases, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has revealed. “We want to determine why there is such a high spike in the number of learners, because we find that it’s mostly in boarding schools. But we also want to see what it is that the schools are doing right and what it is that they need to improve,” the Ministry’s Executive Director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp, said adding that disregard for COVID-19 regulations was found to be…

20 Apr

Quest for Inclusive Health Care Framework …as SADC MPs demand action on Intellectual Property, TRIPS flexibilities

ObserverObserver MoneyBotswana, Covid-19, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, SADC Members of Parliament, Seychelles

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK - The COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified the need to address issues related to Intellectual Property (IP) and human rights as well as for taking steps to benefit from TRIPS flexibilities to ensure access to medicines for all. As Least Developed Countries (LDCs) join the rest of the world in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, there are concerns over access, transparency, equity and human rights violations. Against this backdrop, SADC Members of Parliament last week called for all hands on board to build the region’s capacity to produce medicines and to ensure that citizens benefit from their vast…

16 Apr

AstraZeneca finally arrives …as ministry misses vaccination target

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Covid-19, Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia is set to get more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with the much-awaited AstraZeneca expected to arrive in the country Friday morning. According to Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane, the consignment will be the first of three tranches of doses the country will be expecting. “First tranche of 24 000 doses will be landing. Next week expecting more and the rest of the allocation in May from COVAX, also exploring other pipelines," Masabane said. The arrival of the vaccine, which is being sourced under COVAX facility, comes more than three months after it was initially…

15 Apr

BoN Governor defends high bank charges

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN) Governor, Covid-19, Johannes Gawaxab

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Bank of Namibia (BoN) Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab, has come out in defence of existing high banking fees and charges,stating that it was not the role of the central bank to detect what should be charged. This comes amid concern that high bank charges and fees in the country are contributing to financial exclusion, as members of the public shy away from the formal banking system. “We need to be careful that we don’t go tell the banks ‘thou shall charge the following fees’ because if that happens then we have got issues with financial stability in the country…

09 Apr

COVID saves Govt millions in S&T

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Government, Ministry of Finance Spokesperson, Tonateni Shidhudhu

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The restrictions on travel due to COVID-19 have saved government N$105.7 million in travel allowances. According to Ministry of Finance Spokesperson, Tonateni Shidhudhu, a 34.06 percent cost saving was achieved in 2020/2021 compared to the last financial year’s (2019/2020) expenditure. He added that a 56.81 percent saving had been achieved for the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) compared to the last financial year. Shidhudhu said only 51.33 percent was spent, of which DSA gobbled up over N$105 million for the period April 2021 to December 2021, compared to the N$243,1 million ,of which 78.4 percent was spent from the…

01 Apr

BoN declares N$278m dividend

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Bank of Namibia on Wednesday declared a N$278.2 million dividend for the 2020 financial year to the State Revenue Fund, lower than the N$399 million declared prior year. This comes as the apex bank declared a N$532 million surplus for the period under review. “The financial performance of the Bank in 2020 was negatively impacted by low interest rates in the global markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; nonetheless the Bank still recorded a notable surplus albeit lower in comparison with 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was characterised by…

01 Apr

COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday extended the current COVID-19 regulations, with minor changes to the measures. Under the current dispensation, which will last until 30 April, restriction on movement will remain in place from 22h00 until 04h00, daily. Restaurants, bars and shebeens will be permitted to extend the trading hours for liquor up to 22h00, Mondays to Saturdays. The sale of alcohol on Sundays will remain prohibited, while attendance at public gatherings have been increased from the current number of 50 to 100 persons per event, whether the event is held indoor and outdoor. Minister of Health and…