WALVIS BAY – The police in Erongo says they will issue travel permits strictly on the grounds of a medical emergency or in line with the current regulation of the Amended Public Health Covid-19 general regulations.

Police have, thus, warned residents in Erongo not to undertake unnecessary trips to Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja for the next two weeks.

The call comes after President Hage Geingob placed the three towns under lockdown for the next two weeks due to a spike in Covid-19 infections and deaths.

Inspector Ileni Shapumba last week told the media that only three authorised officers will issue travel permits in Erongo.

They are the station commander of the Walvis Bay police station in town, chief inspector Patrick Muhita, Swakopmund station commander chief inspector Moses Aebeb as well as the Karibib police station commander and inspector Aino Imukusi. 

“This is a serious matter; hence, we strongly discourage the public from undertaking unnecessary travels to the restricted areas. However, permits will only be issued strictly on the ground of medical emergency or critical grounds and as in line with regulation 5A of the Amended Public Health Covid-19 general regulations,” Shapumba said.

He added that those who intend to pass through the restricted areas should provide supportive documents or they will not be allowed. 

“We will compromise the safety of other Namibians. We are guided by the regulations, and we shall act within that bound,” he said.

According to the amended regulations, no person should enter or depart from this restricted area unless they reside and are returning to the area from another place. Also, only persons entering into or departing from the restricted area for the purpose of rendering critical services or providing essential goods or for the purpose of receiving essential medical treatment will be allowed to apply for permits.

People entering or departing from the restricted area for the purpose of attending a funeral of a close family member or a dependant or for the purpose of transporting human remains, close member attending to a family member or dependant who is ill or suffers from a distressing situation.

Apart from that, tourists entering for tourism purposes, presenting a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, will be allowed to enter the country.

Any other emergency an authorised person considers sufficient to warrant the entering or departing from the restricted area will be granted a permit.

- edeklerk@nepc.com.na