Covid-19: Namibia amends the current Public Health Regulations! [update]

update (24 January 2022): According to a "Public Notice" (No: 1/2022) by Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), persons with domicile status who have been fully vaccinated (valid and authentic vaccination certificate required) can enter Namibia without presenting a negative PCR test.

Namibia's Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, announced on the occasion of the 39th Covid-19 briefing on the national response measures on 13 January 2022 that the current Covid-19 public health measures have been reviewed and amended in light of the current Covid-19 situation in Namibia. The following regulations related to travel and tourism will come into force from 16 January 2022 to 15 February 2022*:

• Gatherings:
• The number of attendees at public gatherings will remain unchanged at not more than 200 persons per event.
• Curfew:
• The current epidemiological environment does not warrant the re-introduction of a curfew.
• Restrictions related to liquor:
• The measures related to the sale of liqour are retained without change.
• Business operations:
• Business owners shall continue to operate in line with the provisions of their business licenses. Business owners of restaurants, bars, kapanas, hair saloons and others mus enforce the compliance with Covid-19 protocols by employees such as the strict wearing of masks. It is also the duty of the clients to demand the wearing of masks by waitresses, hairdressers and other service providers. The wearing of masks by all in public space remains a mandatory requirement in Namibia.
• Public transport:
• Measures related to public transport remain unchanged.
• Requirements for entry in the country:
• Fully vaccinated Namibians, permanent residents and truck drivers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test result upon entry into Namibia. The above mentioned categories of people can enter the country at any time with a valid and authentic vaccination card.
• For all other categories of travellers, including truck drivers who are not fully vaccinated, the validity of a negative PCR Covid-19 test result remains 72 hours from the time of the collection of the specimen to the time the individual presents her/hinself at the Point of Entry into Namibia.
• Non-Namibians who arrive with PCR test results older than 72 hours and are not in possession of a de-isolation certificate, will be denied entry in the country. Namibians who arrive without a valid PCR test result or a de-isolation certificate will be subjected to a PCR test at own cost at the Point of Entry and will be quarantined at own cost. Such traveller will be released from quarantine of the PCR test results are negative.
• Namibians and permanent residence permit holders who present positive PCR test results at Points of Entry may be allowed to proceed to the final destination and be subjected to isolation at own cost or to supervised home isolation provided that they have obtained approval for such supervised home isolation from the responsible officals at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS).
• As of now, random testing of travellers arriving Namibia will not be implemented. The situation will however be closely monitored and this may be revisited if the need arises.

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