MINISTRY OF HEALTH ANS SOCIAL SERVICES STATEMENT BY DR. KALUMBI SHANGULA, MP, MINISTER OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE OCASSION OF THE 31ST COVID-19 PUBLIC BRIEFING
15 JULY 2021
Since the last public briefing by H. E. Dr Hage G. Geingob on the 30 June 2021, the Covid-19 epidemiological situation in the country has remained static in terms of new infections, hospitalisation and deaths. For the entire duration of the country-wide restriction of movement the daily new infections remained high above the one thousand
mark. The number of deaths has correspondingly remained above 20 deaths per day, peaking at 150 deaths announced on the 13 July 2021. The pressure on the hospital beds and oxygen supply has remained sustained at high levels.
2. On 5 July 2021, I have officially announced the presence of delta variant of Covid-19 in Khomas based on laboratory determination. The current epidemiological situation is defined by a number of variables. This infective agent can spread rapidly and appears to be more transmissible. It is virulent causing severe illness which require hospitalisation and intensive care. Secondly, the high interactions among the public aid its high transmissibility. Although several public health measures are put in place to curb its spread, these are rendered less effective due to non compliance with them and
inadequate enforcement. Since the infective agent is relatively new, as it enter in a non-immune population in Namibia, its infectivity is greatly enhanced.
3. In response to the challenges, the government undertook certain measures in order to address the situation and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The government has adopted the policy of strengthening and expanding the existing hospitals instead of creating stand-alone facilities. In this way, the new facilities benefit from the existing health infrastructure like theatres, intensive care units, X-ray facilities, dental services,
maternity services, and not to mention the scarce human resource like medical specialists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, physiotherapists as well as other support structures among them, mortuaries, laundry, kitchen and others. I shall expand on specific interventions later on. I shall now elaborate on specific public health measures as announced by H. E. the President. The continuation of the measures is justified given the little dividends we have received thus far.
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