55 out of 100 000

KOOS CALITZ WRITES:

Please share this message to encourage others, and for it to reach our Namibian politicians.

This message about Covid-19 is aimed at both Namibian politicians, leaders in industry, and ordinary citizens.

I am a proud Namibian citizen, a registered professional engineer and a qualified high school teacher, with a liking in mathematics. It is unfortunate how the world powers in recent weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic have managed to create anxiety in the leadership of so many African countries, and how many Namibians were influenced to now live in absolute fear of the virus.

Lockdowns around the world were instituted only as a temporary measure to slow the initial spread of the virus, to buy time for health sectors to be better prepared for testing and treatment. Unfortunately a perception has now been created in Namibia that it is indeed possible to contain the virus with extended lockdown measures without devastating consequences to our fragile economy, and to the livelihood of the majority of Namibians across our beautiful country.

Allow me to provide you with a factual perspective through numbers:

Various credible sources have confirmed that the Covid-19 death rate in African countries is much lower than expected. Africa appears to be more resistant to the corona virus than other continents.

But let us assume the worst and apply Italy’s Covid-19 death statistics to Namibia. With its population of 60.36 million, Italy is very densely populated with many people aged over 65 years. By 31 May 2020, 33 415 people have died from the virus in Italy. Their highest number of deaths in a single day was reported already on 27 March 2020 when 919 people died.

The death rate of Italy is calculated as: (33 415/60 360 000) × 100/1 = 0.055%. This means that for every 100 000 people, 55 people died, and 99 945 survived.

Applying the same death rate to Namibia’s population of 2 540 905:

0.055% × 2 540 905 = 1 406 Namibians may die of Covid-19.

In Swakopmund (pop. 44 725) 25 people.

In Windhoek (pop. 325 000) 178 people.

As a parent that has suffered the loss of an own child, I sincerely know that the loss of one person is one too many, but do you realize that every year in Namibia more than 2 700 people die of cancer, and more than 2 200 people die of smoking? Was our country ever locked down, or schools and churches closed because people died of cancer or smoking?

Why are so many people supporting extended lockdown measures that will eventually destroy our economy and livelihoods?

While their salaries remain unchanged, do our decision-makers realize where we are heading? Why do so many Christian believers put their hope in lockdown measures instead of God? Why are these figures not shared in public? Why do we still have lockdown measures?

It is high time for our economy to be restored while our health system takes charge of health issues.