President Hage Geingob said Namibia’s Covid-19 rate of daily new cases has risen to be the 4th highest on the continent after South Africa, Eswatini and Gabon.

Addressing the media at State House in Windhoek, Geingob said Namibia’s cumulative cases stood at 2 129 up from 2 052 on Thursday.

Geingob also said the pandemic is changing rapidly in the country and that it took 4 months to record 1,000 cases but just 14 days to record 2, 000 cases.

“There are now confirmed cases in 12 regions across the country, with the exception of the Kavango West and Omaheke.

“While Community Transmission was confirmed at Walvis Bay in mid-June 2020, there has been a steady increase in the number of cases in Windhoek, and community transmission is now suspected in both the Khomas and Kharas regions.

“With the rising number of cases in the country, the public needs to be assured that the government is putting in place all necessary measures to respond to the situation. We will continue to do everything in our power to mitigate the impact of this pandemic,” the president said.

From the onset of this pandemic, Geingob said he has maintained that the health of Namibians is the biggest priority, therefore, it was highly regrettable that to date, 10 Namibians have succumbed during July 2020.

Of the 10 fatalities, he said, 9 were from Walvis Bay and on Thursday, Windhoek recorded its first COVID-19 related death.

“I express, on behalf of the Government and the Nation at large, our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families who bear the loss of their loved ones under very difficult circumstances.

“As much as health imperatives demand physical distancing, this is the time to empathize and provide solace to one another. May God comforts all who mourn,” he said.