Namibia reported a total of 5120 Covid-19 cases in the past 7 days, reporting 731 Covid-19 cases on average per day. Khomas region reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases during the week under review with a total of 890 cases, followed by Erongo region with a total 627 cases in 7 days. Kavango West region reported the least number of Covid-19 cases, reporting a total of 55 cases in 7 days. See figure 2 below. The number of Covid-19 cases reported declined by 42% when compared to the previous week. Futhermore, a total of 380 Covid-19 deaths were reported during the period under review which translates to 54 deaths reported on average per day. Covid-19 deaths reported declined by 16% when compared to the previous week. A total number of 9776 people recovered from Covid-19 in the past 7 days, with the recovery rate of 1397 people on average per day, which is 89 % higher then the recovery rate for the previous week. See figure 1 below.
Figure 1 : COVID-19 situation Namibia, Weekly % change
Figure 2: Weekly Covid-19 cases per region
Namibia recorded a total of 8932 Covid-19 cases in the past 7 days. Erongo region reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases during the week under review ,reporting a total of 1423 cases, followed by Khomas region with 1307 cases in 7 days. Kavango West reported the least number of cases ,reporting 98 cases in 7 days. See figure 2 below.
The number of Covid-19 cases reported declined by 9% when compared to the previous week. On average a total of 1276 Covid-19 cases were reported per day for the past 7 days. Additionally, a total of 456 Covid-19 deaths were reported in the past 7 days, which translates to 114 deaths reported on average per day. Covid-19 deaths reported increased significantly by 48% when compared to the previous week. During the past 7 days 5149 people recovered from Covid-19 with the recovery rate of 1287 people on average per day, which is 35 % lower than the recovery rate for the previous week. See figure 1 below
Figure 1 : COVID-19 SITUATION FOR NAMIBIA FOR THE PAST 7 DAYS(7 July 2021-13 July 2021)
Figure 2: Weekly Covid-19 cases per region(7 July 2021-13 July 2021)
Background
Sub-Saharan Africa is buckling under a third wave of COVID-19 infections that threatens to be even more brutal than the two that came before. This is another indication of the unhealthy divergence in the global economy. There is a clear path for countries with good access to vaccines, where strong recoveries are unfolding, while other countries are still waiting for the vaccines and at risk of falling further behind. Figure 1 below indicates the vaccination speed since November 2020 until May 2021 for advanced and developing economies.
Figure 1: Vaccination Rate (doses administered per 100 population)
Perspective
The growth of infections in sub-Saharan Africa is now the fastest in the world see figure 2 below, with an explosive trajectory that is outpacing the record set in the second wave. The latest (delta) variant—reportedly 60 percent more transmissible than earlier variants—has been detected in 14 countries.
Figure 2: Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa
In Namibia, new cases reached the previous January peak within two weeks, and set new records in the following two weeks later. It is also becoming clearer that by the time a new surge is identified, it may already be too late.
There appears to be a real crisis emerging with the near-term future of the continent will be one of repeated waves of infection. This will lead to an ever-increasing toll on the lives and livelihoods of the region’s most vulnerable, while negatively impacting investment, productivity, and growth.
Outlook
The reality is that the longer the pandemic is left to ravage Sub-Sahara, the more likely it is that ever more dangerous variants of the disease will emerge. Vaccination is not simply an issue of local lives and livelihoods, but carries the value of a global public good. The objective is that the most durable vaccine effort should be one that covers everyone and every country.