The COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, announced on 14 March 2020 that the virus had reached Namibia. A Romanian couple constituted the two first cases and recovered 79 days after their initial diagnosis.
On 17 March 2020, president Hage Geingob declared a state of emergency which introduced measures such as the closure of all borders, suspension of gatherings and economic related resolutions. Between March and September 2020 Namibia went through lockdowns of varying severity. Beginning 28 March, a full lockdown "stage 1" was prescribed, allowing only essential services. On 5 May the country transitioned into "stage 2", allowing commuting to the work place, restricted use of shops and malls, some inter-regional travel, and transportation of goods across borders. On 2 June "stage 3" was prescribed, with schools and restaurants reopening and the sale of alcohol no longer forbidden. Walvis Bay, where two newly infected people had been in contact with many locals, instead moved back to stage 1. On 30 June "stage 4" was reached, allowing again public gatherings of less than 250 people. However, during this period infections rose dramatically, and stage 3 was again invoked for 28 days on 13 August 2020.
No infections were reported from 6 April 2020 to 20 May 2020, however there was a notable increase in cases after this period - possibly due to local transmission. A second and higher rise of infections began in July 2020, following relaxed restrictions in several regions. The first death was reported 116 days after the arrival of COVID-19 in Namibia.
As of September 2020, Namibia was within the top 18 number of countries with the most COVID-19 cases reported in Africa. Although Erongo led with the most cases and deaths, Khomas Region started to experience a community outbreak, and numbers rose exponentially to match that of Erongo. In mid-September, most restrictions were lifted after a significant decrease in daily cases.
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan, Hubei, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.
Timeline
Confirmed cases
March 2020
On 14 March, Namibia reported its first cases of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. They were a Romanian couple who arrived in Windhoek from Spain via Doha, Qatar, on 11 March. They had been screened on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport but showed no symptoms at that time. The couple presented to a private health facility with flu-like symptoms in Klein Windhoek and was referred for testing. At that time, Namibia did not have the capacity to test for COVID-19, so tests had to be sent to South Africa. Their results came back on 14 March and were announced for the first time by the Minister of Health and Social Services.
On 19 March, a third case was confirmed. A 61-year-old German citizen, who arrived in Namibia on 13 March, was tested positive. On 23 March, the fourth case was confirmed. It was a 19-year-old male citizen from London. The patient was quarantined and put in isolation. By 24 March 2020, the total number of cases reached six when two more cases were confirmed. A Namibian pilot, aged 44, and a student studying at University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa tested positive during quarantine. Although the 21-year-old student tested negative upon his departure from South Africa, he was tested again in Namibia and put under mandatory quarantine as per the Emergency Response plan. On 29 March 3 new travel-related cases were confirmed. 2 persons, a 35-year-old female returning from Dubai, and a 69-year-old male who travelled from South Africa. All were admitted to isolation facilities.
By end March, the total number of cases had reached 11, all of which travel-related. On 28 March, a complete lockdown was ordered.
April and May 2020
With the country in lockdown for the complete month, only 3 new cases were registered in early April. Until 20 May 2020, no new cases were recorded. The total remained at 16 confirmed cases.
End of May 2020 some new cases were recorded, so that on 31 May a total of 24 cases was reached. The Romanian couple, who were the first two cases in Namibia, recovered 79 days after their initial diagnosis.
June 2020
Throughout most of June 2020, Namibia was in "stage 3" lockdown, allowing national travel and restricted operations of schools, restaurants, and businesses. During the first half of June, cases rose from 24 to 32. Two of the new cases were suspected to be Namibia's first local infections. In the second half of June cases picked up significantly and stood at over 200 on the last day of the month.
July 2020
The first of July marked 80 new cases. 78 were from Walvis Bay and 2 were detected in quarantine facilities. Out of the 80 cases, 54 were males (68%) and the remaining 26 were females (33%). The youngest case was a one-year-old and the oldest was a 61-year-old. All were in stable conditions at that time. The Health Ministry also announced that there is substantial backlog of tests due to increased number of tests carried out.
2 July: 8 new cases were recorded; all from Walvis Bay. Included were 4 males and 4 females. Only four of the 8 were contacts of confirmed cases. All were reported to be in stable conditions.
On 3 July 56 new cases were announced. 54 were from Walvis Bay and 2 were in Windhoek, the capital. Out of the 56 new cases, 39 were females (68%) and the other 32% were males. 29 cases were in contact with a confirmed case. The youngest was a 2-month-old child. The Health Ministry also applauded the testing body NIP for testing 592 tests in a 24-hour period - the highest yet. This comes after it was announced that there is a backlog of almost a week in tests.
26 new cases were registered on the 4th of July. One was a new-born from Windhoek and the other 25 cases were all from Walvis Bay. 18 were females and 7 were males. Out of the 26 new cases, 11 were contacts to confirmed cases. All cases were reported to be in stable conditions.
38 new cases were announced on 5 July bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 412 [sic]. 27 were from Walvis Bay and 1 was from Ohangwena region. 22 out of 38 were females and 16 were males. All were in stable/mild conditions.
On 6 July 73 new cases were announced by the Health Ministry. One case was from Windhoek and the other 72 cases were from Walvis Bay. 37 were females and 36 were males - the youngest being 5 years old. All were reported to be in stable conditions.
7 July: 54 new cases were registered. All were from Walvis Bay. 35 of these cases were females. All were reported to be in stable conditions.
8 July brought about 55 new cases. 53 were from Walvis Bay; most of which were on a vessel and 2 were from Windhoek. 48 were males and 7 were females. All were reported to be in stable conditions. A Namibian truck driver, who tested positive in Botswana, is currently in the isolation units of Gobabis. He does not however count as a Namibian case. On 3 July, a case of a new-born baby was announced. This case was de-registered on 8 July as it was a false-positive. The positive result was probably due to contamination.
On 9 July 22 new cases were reported. 21 out of the 22 cases were Namibians. The cases were from Erongo region (20), Oshana region (1) and !Karas region (1). All were reported to be in stable conditions.
52 new cases (49 from Walvis Bay, 1 from Oshakati and 2 from Okahandja) were announced on 10 July 2020. On the same day, Namibia's first COVID-19 death was also announced (see Deaths timeline). All were reported to be in stable conditions. Later on, another case was announced - that of the deceased patient who was not included in the initial cases.
11 July: 45 new cases were announced by the Health Minister. 42 were from Walvis Bay, 2 from Swakopmund and 1 from Lüderitz. All were reported to be in stable conditions.
72 new cases were reported on 12 July. According to the Health Minister, 68 of the new cases were from Walvis Bay, while Swakopmund, Engela (in the northern region Ohangwena), Keetmanshoop and Oshakati each reported 1 case. All cases were reported to be in stable conditions.
There were 76 new cases on 13 July. 73 were from Walvis Bay, 2 from Windhoek and 1 from Keetmanshoop.
Only 3 cases were announced on 14 July. One of the cases was also a reported death (see Deaths timeline). All 3 were from Walvis Bay in the Erongo region.
96 new cases have been added on 15 July. 1 of those tested was a South African and the rest were Namibians - 2 from Keetmanshoop, 2 from Karasburg, 1 from Windhoek and 90 from Walvis Bay.
The 1,000 mark was reached on 16 July when 72 new cases were announced - 1 from Windhoek, 1 from Katima Mulilo (but travelled from Walvis Bay), 2 from Swakopmund and the other 68 from Walvis Bay. The case from Windhoek was a patient who was admitted to a hospital.
46 new cases were added on 17 July. Only 1 of these was a non-Namibian. 50% were males and the other half were females. 3 cases were from Windhoek, 2 were from Swakopmund, 1 from Keetmanshoop and the other 40 from Walvis Bay.
125 new cases were announced on 18 July. 118 were from Walvis Bay and the other 7 were from: Windhoek (1), Swakopmund (2), Keetmanshoop (2 who are non-Namibians), Luderitz and Engela (both 1). The majority of new cases (70%) were males.
44 new cases were announced on 19 July (along with 1 new death; see Deaths timeline). 6 of the 44 new cases were non-Namibians on a fishing vessel. The rest were from Erongo region: 2 from Swakopmund and 36 from Walvis Bay.
20 July: 97 new cases along with 1 new death (see Deaths timeline) were announced. It was also announced that 13 cases are in severe conditions across the country. 90 were from Walvis Bay, 3 from Swakopmund, 2 from Engela and 1 from Outapi & Katima Mulilo each. 3 health care workers were among the infected cases. 81 out of 97 cases were males.
22 new cases were announced on 21 July. 21 were from the Erongo region, while 1 was from Windhoek. 17 were males.
On 22 July the total COVID-19 cases rose to 1,402 when 36 new cases were announced. 32 were from Erongo region, 3 in Windhoek and 1 in Luderitz.
23 July: 120 new cases. 111 from Erongo region, 7 from Khomas region and 1 from Kharas and Zambezi each.
96 new cases were announced on 24 July. 79 originated from Erongo region, while 10 originated from the capital, Windhoek.
On 25 July 69 new cases were announced.
88 new cases, along with 1 new death (see below) were announced on 26 July. Most originated from Walvis Bay, however a few originated from Windhoek, raising some concerns of local transmission. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula however dismissed these claims and called them 'sporadic transmission'.
A total of 68 cases were announced on 28 July. 60 originated from Walvis Bay.
28 July: 74 new cases.
29 July: 69 new cases were announced. 59 originated from Erongo region, 8 from Khomas, and 1 from Hardap and Ohangwena each.
66 new cases were announced on 30 July.
At the end of July, total COVID-19 cases rose to 2,129.
August 2020
The first day of August brought about 95 new cases. Most originated from Erongo region, however 6 originated from Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa region; a region previously with few cases.
On 4 August, total COVID-19 cases rose to 2,470. Most of these were from Walvis Bay, however a growing number originated from Windhoek as well.
6 August: Cases rose to 2,652. Cases were mainly from the Erongo region, however cases were also detected in other parts of the country, especially in the northern parts and in the capital, Windhoek.
One week later, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased with almost 1,000 new cases, with the 3,000 mark reached on 10 August. As of 14 August, there was a total of 3,726 confirmed cases in the Namibian territory. Although most of the cases arose from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, both cities which are experiencing a current outbreak, the capital also recorded a high spike in cases. During a national COVID-19 media conference, the president described the situation in Windhoek as 'clustered community transmission'.
On 14 August 2020, presidential advisor Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi tested positive for COVID-19. As a precaution, presidential press secretary Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari said President Hage Geingob undertook a precautionary COVID-19 test which the results came out negative.
Cases continued to rise in the Khomas region, while a downward trend was noticed mid-August in Erongo region.
In the month of August, cases jumped from 2,500 to almost 7,500 – an increase in approximately 5,000 cases.
September 2020
September started off with 7,692 cases of COVID-19. Although cases were still increasing exponentially, a slight decrease was observed in the preceding week. On 2 September, Khomas and Erongo regions both had 3,400+ cases.
During the period of 2 September—12 September 2020, Khomas had 897 new cases, while Erongo only had 181 new cases. !Karas region had 100. By this time, it has already been established that the Khomas region; in particular Windhoek, the capital, was the hotspot of the country with the most cases and most deaths.
The 10,000-mark was reached on 17 September 2020.