President Hage Geingob on Friday said Namibia has recorded a downward trend in new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and positivity ratio.

Geingob said the positivity ratio has fallen from 28 percent to 15 percent, attributing the progress to government measures put in place.

He announced a relaxation on some measures, including raising the ceiling of people allowed in public gatherings from 50 to 100.

He said the government also is allowing gyms, nightclubs, and casinos to operate at half capacity and resumption of contact sports without spectators.

Other measures would be to maintain a 10.00 p.m. to 4.00 a.m. curfew and alcohol can only be sold between 09.00 a.m. and 06.00 p.m. and consumed off-site.

The announced amendments would remain in effect from Saturday midnight up to Sept. 14.

Namibia now has 122,097 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a national recovery rate of 91 percent and a case fatality rate of 2.7 percent.

It has been vaccinating the population at a daily rate of 3,250 doses.

The government has set a target of inoculating 1.5 million eligible Namibians or 60 percent of the population by March 31.

Geingob reiterated his call for all eligible citizens to get fully vaccinated saying “these targets will not be realized without the full cooperation of the public’’.

Geingob expressed sincere appreciation to friendly nations and organizations who have demonstrated solidarity and generosity in the nation’s hour of greatest need.

“As I have often stated, no nation in the world will be safe from COVID-19 until all nations have defeated the disease.’’

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In a related development, Namibian Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula said the procurement process of 350,000 additional doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China is progressing well and is anticipated to be finalized by next week at the latest.

“Once completed, doses will be delivered in September,’’ he added.