Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, has announced that Namibia on Thursday recorded 547 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 3 698.

In the daily update issued Friday, Shangula said the new cases formed part of 2 845 results and represented a 19.2 per cent positivity ratio, with a sex distribution of 266 females and 251 males aged between three weeks and 103 years.

The Khomas Region recorded the highest number of cases at 110, followed by ||Kharas with 61 cases, Otjozondjupa 55, Oshana 54, Erongo 41, Omusati 40, Kavango East 37, Kunene 35, Oshikoto 25, Ohangwena 18, Omaheke 15, Kavango West 14, Hardap 10 and Zambezi, one case.

Among the confirmed cases are 63 learners, nine teachers, 10 students and 17 health care workers. Seven cases have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 419 cases are fully vaccinated.

Shangula also reported that 779 new recoveries were recorded, bringing total recoveries in the country to 135 096.

The number of active cases increased to 14 511 of which 377 were hospitalised and 35 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Five of the hospitalised cases have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 30 are fully vaccinated, while two cases in ICU are fully vaccinated.

The minister also reported that by 05 January 2022, 406 899 people had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing 27.1 per cent of the target population, including 2 159 children aged 12 to 17 years. A total of 106 340 people have received the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, with 239 573 adults having received two doses of other vaccines.

He further said 345 913 people had completed their vaccination, which translates to 23.0 per cent of the target population, adding that 6 933 people have received a booster dose.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency