Another life lost to Covid-19
01 August 2020 | Health
“A male (53) with known chronic renal failure and multiple medical co-morbidities was admitted on 22 July 2020 at a private hospital in Swakopmund. He was tested on 21 July 2020 in Walvis Bay and again at the dialysis isolation unit as he had tested positive for Covid-19. He was sick while in isolation but his condition remained stable. He however, suddenly experienced severe shortness of breath on 29 July 2020 and died on the same day.”
Shangula said it was evident that most if not all fatalities related to Covid-19 are people with existing chronic medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases, liver disease, and others.
“The public should therefore exercise extra precautionary measure especially the vulnerable group. It is everyone’s responsibility to shield and protect this segment of our population.”
The minister also announced seven new recoveries involving Cases no 70, 80, 88, 142, 152,156 and 191.
“The recovered and were discharged. We have since established that the two recoveries we announced yesterday from Hardap and Katima Mulilo were announced previously. Therefore the total number of recoveries stands at 171.”
He further said that a total of 737 results from NIP, Pathcare and NAMDEB laboratories were received over the past twenty-four hours. Out of these, 95 samples tested positive for Covid-19.
Of these 42 cases were recorded in Walvis Bay, 29 in Windhoek, 6 in Okahandja and 1 case in Oshakati. Fifty-five of the latest recorded cases are males and forty are females. Their ages range from 3 to 63 years and contact tracing has been initiated.
Windhoek cases
The minister explained that detailed information have been obtained for 18 of the 29 cases reported today from Windhoek.
“Nine are males and nine are females. Twelve are contacts of confirmed cases. Eight presented with Covid-19 related symptoms. Seven of the contacts have been in quarantines facilities. One case is a cross-border truck driver who returned from South Africa on 22 July 2020, while one is a Namibian who returned from South Africa on 16 July 2020. The latter was first tested on 18 July 2020 and the result returned negative for Covid-19. We are still collecting information on the rest of the cases,” said the minister.
Two of the persons who are among the Windhoek cases travelled to Omusati to attend a funeral before their positive results were released.
“We once again caution the public to minimize traveling. We also call on the organisers of public events like funerals, weddings and church services to ensure strict observance of public health measures,” emphasised the minister
The six cases from Okahandja are all from the military base and are contacts to a confirmed case.
The case from Oshana involves a male (41) who is originally from the Ohangwena region. He was admitted at a private hospital in the Oshana region. He was tested while on admission and the result returned positive. The Ohangwena team was informed to do contact tracing.
Summary of Coivid-19 cases
Cumulative confirmed cases - 2 224
Newly confirmed - 95
Recoveries - 171
Active cases - 2 042
Deaths - 11
Total samples tested - 26 344
Active contacts - 3 555
Cumulative number of people quarantined - 6 539
Number of quarantined people discharged - 4 877
Number of people in quarantines - 1 662