Namibia flip-flopping on corona

Namibia flip-flopping on corona The world has been plunged into a coronavirus public-health crisis at a time when Namibia's faith in its health institutions is at its lowest.

On Monday when government ministers told Namibian Sun that there are no plans to manage people arriving into the country from South Africa differently, Israel announced that anyone arriving in that country will be quarantined for 14 days.

This includes Israelis returning home from wherever they had gone. By Monday, South African authorities had confirmed seven cases of infection from the deadly virus.

This is happening at our doorstep but we do not see Namibian authorities being proactive enough to prevent the virus sneaking into the country.

Neighbours Botswana have moved swiftly by cancelling, as a precautionary measure, all international flights in line with a World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory.

On the other hand, Namibian officials on Monday said it will be “business as usual” as far as the movement of people from South Africa and elsewhere is concerned.

This lethargic approach by the authorities worries many Namibians who wonder what exact plans are in place to fend off the advances of what is currently the most feared disease in the world.

The nation has every reason to fear, especially in light of anticipated mass arrivals of people from various corners of the world to attend President Hage Geingob's second term swearing-in next week.

For a country that has been struggling to contain hepatitis E infections for three years, Namibia ought to have a better approach to possible incidents of the coronavirus.

We are no health experts but the temporary health facility set up at Hosea Kutako Airport to screen new arrivals is, in our layman minds, not enough to inspire confidence that the country has indeed put proper preventative measures in place.