Namibia: Revised tourist-related Covid-19 regulations!

Namibia's President Dr. Hage G. Geingob has announced a number of changes to the status quo of the tourist-related COVID-19 regulations in the country during a public briefing on the national COVID-19 response measures on 30 November 2020. The current dispensation of measures to fight the pandemic which came into force on 17 October 2020, will expire at midnight on 30 November 2020. From 01 December 2020 t0 25 January 2021 the following measures will apply.

People arriving in Namibia:

Requirements for COVID-10 test results:

• All non-Namibian travellers arriving in Namibia are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from the country of departure, which is not older than 72 hours.
• This requirement does not apply to children under the age of five years.
• Non-Namibian travellers arriving with a negative result, which is older than 72 hours, will be placed in quarantine and tested for COVID-19 on the same day, at own cost. If results come out negative, they will be released from quarantine. If positive, they will be isolated at own cost, according to Namibian isolation protocols.
• Returning Namibian citizens or holders of Namibian permanent residence or employment permits may enter the country without a COVID-19 PCR test result or with a positive result. But in cases of arrival without a COVID-19 test result, s/he will be swabbed immediately upon arrival while observing quarantine and if the result comes out negative, they will be released from quarantine.
• A Namibian who arrives with a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, will be isolated at a designated isolation facility or home isolation, subject to approval after assessment by an authorized medical officer.

Public gatherings:

• Public gatherings will remain at 200 people. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to arrange and host all public gatherings outdoors. Registers of attendees at such gatherings and events must be maintained.

Liquor sale restriction:

• Sale of alcohol by shebeens, bars and nightclubs shall be extended to midnight.
• The business must:
• ensure physical distancing
• all business premises must be equipped with functional hand-sanitizer dispensers, at all times.

Keeping COVID-19 registers:

• Shopping outletts and businesses will no longer be required to keep registers of persons visiting their premises. Registers should, however, be maintained at public events such as weddings, funerals, religious gatherings, sports and entertainment events.