Lockdown in Namibia: Air Namibia suspends flights
Air Namibia has temporarily suspended all domestic flights after President Hage Geingob on Wednesday imposed a strict lockdown following an increase in community transmissions of Covid-19.
"Domestic flight operation will resume on 30 August 2020," the airliner said in a statement on Wednesday night, reassuring customers that all tickets purchased before August 12 would be offered one free change to a new travel date until October 31.
In an address broadcast on television, Geingob said it had taken Namibia four months to reach 1 000 Covid-19 cases but just 14 days to hit the 2 000 mark and a mere three days to surpass 3 000 cases.
"We must take informed decisions to safeguard both lives and livelihoods," he said, adding the restrictions would remain in place until August 28.
"These have not been easy decisions to take, but they are necessary. The measures being put in place have one singular objective - to suppress the spread of Covid-19, so as to protect the lives of Namibians. The confirmation of clustered community transmissions is of great concern. If left unchecked, this pandemic will be catastrophic for our country in terms of lives lost, the economy and increased physical suffering due to illness."
