THE targeted testing initiative, which aims to test some 200 000 people for the coronavirus, has had a cold start as only 20 people were tested on the first day of the exercise.
The purpose of the exercise is to detect possible community transmission of the virus.
The
health ministry on Sunday announced that targeted testing would be done
on people who present themselves to healthcare facilities with
respiratory ailments, health workers, mobile groups like journalists,
people who congregate in large groups and people in the fishing and
mining sectors.
Widespread testing is considered key in measuring
the impact of the contagious virus in risk groups and would also inform
the government on how to implement an exit strategy from the lockdown.
It also coincides with a countrywide lockdown that has resulted in the
country being classified into zones for movement control.
Deputy
health minister Esther Muinjangue said as part of the targeted testing
move, the ministry on Monday tested 20 people, with 19 negative results
while they are still waiting for the results of one test.
Speaking
at the Covid-19 Communication Centre yesterday, Muinjangue said the
ministry has tested 546 people since the virus broke out. A total of 65
people were retested for monitoring.
Namibia still has 16 positive Covid-19 cases. Six cases have recovered while the 10 active cases are reported to be stable.
“We
have also started testing every person who presents him/herself at any
health facility in Windhoek with respiratory symptoms. Some are part of
the 20 already tested,” she noted.
Currently 17 people are
quarantined in Ohangwena, while Otjozondjupa has 39, Khomas 20, Zambezi
29 and //Kharas 12 people quarantined. This brings the total number of
people quarantined to 117.
In an emailed response to The
Namibian yesterday, health minister Kalumbi Shangula said the Covid-19
test on everyone who fits the criteria would be done sometime this week,
but it depends on the testing team’s schedule.
“We have already
been doing this targeted testing, but now our aim is to expand to have
more samples. Currently, testing is only done in Windhoek, but will be
rolled out to the regions once reagents are received and staff is
trained,” Shangula noted.
The minister added community transmission cannot be ruled out, hence the reason for testing.
“The
response measures that we have instituted before and during the time
when cases were reported in Namibia seem to be working. We need to
capitalise on this experience,” he said.
