Omicron variant: Namibia amends Public Health Regulations!

Namibia's Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, announced on the occasion of the 38th Covid-19 briefing on the national response measures on 14 December 2021 that the current Covid-19 public health measures have been reviewed and amended in light of the emergence of the highly transmissible omicron variant of the corona virus in Namibia. The following regulations will come into force from 16 December 2021 to 15 January 2022*:

• Public gatherings in Namibia are adjusted to not more than 200 persons per event.
• No curfew will be introduced in Namibia.
• The measures related to the sale of liqour are retained without change.
• The measures related to business operations are retained without change.
• The measures related to public transport are retained without change. However, the Ministry of Health and Social Services will avail one million disposable face masks to the Ministry of Works and Transport for distribution to travellers in public transport vehicles during the festive season.
• PCR test results upon entry into Namibia:
• Validity of PCR Covid-19 rest results is reduced to 72 hours from time of hte collection of the specimen to the time the individual arrives in Namibia.
• Travellers (Namibians or Non-Namibians) who arrive with PCR test results that are older than 72 hours and are not in possession of a de-isolation certificate, will be subjected to a PCR test at own cost at the Port of Entry and will be quarantined at own cost. Such traveller will be released from quarantine if the PCR test results are negative.
• Namibians arriving with positive PCR results, where such traveller has not completed isolation or does not present a de-isolation certificate, such traveller will be subjected to quarantine at own cost or to supervised home quarantine provided that the traveller has obtained approval for such supervised home quarantine.
• Random Covid-19 PCR testing will be conducted on persons permitted entry into Namibia at Points of Entry.
• Genome sequencing will be carried out on samples that tested positive for Covid-19.
• Namibian citizens and permit holders may enter the country with or without 72-hour PCR test. Those who arrive in Namibia without a negative PCR test result will be subjected to quarantine at own cost or to supervised home quarantine provided that the travellers has obtained appoval for such supervised home quarantine.

*Should the epidemiological profile worsen, the measures may be reviewed at an earlier date.