03 april namib times e-edition

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N$4

namib times

SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6857 FRIDAY 3 APRIL 2020 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Take the Covid-19 Lockdown serious:

Coronavirus can infect 140 000 people in Erongo Estelle de Bruyn The total number of projected novel Coronavirus cases for the Erongo region is 140 000. This according to a joint accessment by the Welwitchia Hospital in Walvis Bay and the Swiss-based Lausanne University Hospital. Of those a total of 28 000 people are feared would be severely affected. This is not good news. The way in which we self-quarentine, maintain social distancing and refrain from interaction with our loved ones, friends, neigbours and the providers of essential services in the next days, weeks and maybe months ahead, may determine who lives and who dies in our communities. This information comes from a press release by the Welwitchia Hospital where concerns are also for the so-called “township-effect” where it is not easy for people to self-isolate as a result of many people occupying the same home, small residential units and people having to move a lot to use ablution and bathroom facilities, fetch water or to go to buy fresh food, as refrigeration capacities are severely limited. In the same press release it is stated even in highly developed first world countries like Germany the fatality rate is 0.6 per cent, in Switzerland, Portugal and South Korea it is 1.4 per cent and in Italy 10.1 per cent. So much more reason for developing countries and under-developed countries to take

Meat supplies won’t run out Estelle de Bruyn

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Covid-19 field hospital groundworks

One of Swakopmund's best known butcheries, Namaqua Meat Market, closed its doors at 13:00 on Wednesday for the duration of the lockdown. The owner, Mr Maritz van Niekerk, said this decision was taken to adhere to government regulations and to for the protection of employees. He however gave the assurance that Namaqua Meat Market will continue to distribute meat to supermarkets. He also does not foresee any shortages of meat or meat products in the foreseeable future. “The abattoirs are still slaughtering and whether they continue will depend on future government directives.

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N$8,1billion rescue plan Estelle de Bruyn

The Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, announced a stimulus and relief package amounting to N$8.1 billion to help Namibia weather the storm of the lockdown and Covid-19 threat.

Namibia’s finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi is the man on the spot in the next weeks and months as Namibia plans to roll out a N$8,1 billion rescue plan to save the country’s economy from the ravages of the global novel Coronavirus pandemic. Namibia has not been spared the scourch. (Picture: wikipedia)

inside No Fishing!

This package is comprised of N$5.9 billion in direct support to businesses, households and cash flow acceleration payments for services rendered to Government and N$2.3 billion off-balance sheet Government liabilities. “The Government of the Republic of Namibia is acutely conscious of the significant negative economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on businesses, households and the economy at large. “The longer the outbreak and the health containment and suppression of the

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Locker vom Hocker

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512 days to the Tokyo Olympics

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