The Ministry of Health and Social Services has urged members of the public experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection to urgently seek medical assistance, as the ministry continues to record a high number of COVID-19 home deaths.

The Ministry’s Executive Director Ben Nangombe told Nampa in an interview on Tuesday that COVID-19 is a new virus that is yet to be fully understood, and as such, members of the public are encouraged to seek health care as soon as possible.

This he said will enable health care workers to assess the conditions of individuals and provide necessary medical advice, and in so doing potentially avoid deaths.

Epidemiological data from the ministry shows that despite an overall decline in COVID-19 deaths in the country, a high number of new COVID-19 deaths being recorded recently, occur outside health facilities or upon arrival at health facilities.

Nangombe revealed said during the week of 25 to 31 October 2021, six deaths were reported countrywide, of which half occurred at home, while one case was reported as dead-on-arrival.

The Okongo, Opuwo, Rundu, Grootfontein, Gobabis and Katima Mulilo districts have been the worst affected, reporting the highest numbers of home deaths over the past eight weeks.

“More deaths (83 per cent) are still occurring among adults aged 60+ years, with 16.7 per cent of these deaths reported for adults aged 80 years and older. Raising public awareness on the importance of early health seeking behaviour should be prioritised to avert more deaths, especially amongst the elderly,” the ministry’s weekly epidemiology reports highlight.

The Katutura State Hospital’s Emergency Medicine specialist and National COVID-19 case management Pillar Lead, Dr Sikuvi Kaveto urged the public, especially those with compromised immune systems and elderly persons, to visit health centres as soon as they feel unwell.

He explained that the natural history of COVID-19 has shown that the viral replication of the virus increases by day two and peaks by day five.

“So during that period a person, especially those with a compromised immune system, is likely to get sicker and if they do not seek health care early, they may die at home or by the time they reach a hospital, it is already too late,” Kaveto said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency