Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula announced that Namibia recorded 68 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

Giving the COVID-19 update on Wednesday, Shangula said Namibia also recorded two new COVID-19 deaths in the Opuwo and Onandjokwe districts.

By Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 126 498, while 3 448 people had succumbed to the virus.

The ||Kharas Region recorded the highest number of positive cases at 14, followed by Ohangwena with 13, Oshana 12, Khomas 11, Zambezi and Hardap recorded six cases each, Kavango East three and Kunene two, while Omaheke recorded one case.

The health minister noted that the new confirmed cases include 13 learners, five teachers, two students and one healthcare worker.

Of the confirmed cases, none had been vaccinated.

Active cases on Tuesday stood at 1 268, of which 125 were hospitalised, with 17 in intensive care units.

Furthermore, 123 new recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 121 770.

As of Tuesday, 234 418 persons had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca or Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines and 145 110 had received their second doses.

Shangula also revealed that the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine had arrived in Namibia on Tuesday and will be available in all the regions by next week Monday, further urging the public to go out in their numbers and get vaccinated.

Government procured about 108 000 J&J doses of the vaccine, with the aim to increase the options of the vaccines available in the country.

“If we increase the number of people vaccinated and the current COVID-19 situation persists, we are likely to see more and more relaxation of the public health measures against COVID-19. Let us support this process with our actions,” urged the minister.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency