Saamstaan nou voorop
Die skielike toename van bevestigde gevalle van Covid-19 in Namibië van vier tot sewe en die eerste plaaslike oordrag van die coronavirus het die Namibiese regering genoop om gister strenger maatreëls aan te kondig om die pandemie hok te slaan.
Inperking plaaslik is minder omvattend as in Suid-Afrika. Die voorkoming van 'n wegholinfekteringspatroon berus by elke persoon in die land se nakoming van reëls en versoeke aan die publiek, besighede en ander rolspelers.
Verskeie onduidelikhede bestaan steeds. Daar is ook vrae oor hoekom reise net in twee streke ingeperk word en nie in die hele land nie.
Oor die sluiting van kerke en die feit dat drinkplekke steeds oop is, woed 'n warm debat. As almal eerder tuisbly, kan sjebeens, cucawinkels, kroeë en klubs nie gevaarlike aansteekplekke wees nie. Koop jou drankie vinnig, of elders, en ontspan tuis.
Die regering moet sy onderneming gestand doen om so gou moontlik binne die komende dae hokreëls baie duidelik in te kleur. Dit sal nakoming bevorder.
Nie net mense in die Khomas- en Erongostreke word geraak nie. Verskeie maatreëls geld landwyd en saamstaan is oral nodig om die verspreiding van Covid-19 te stuit.
Werkgewers sal 'n ope hand na werknemers moet reik om mense in die komende weke te help beveilig, maar die ekonomie steeds aan die gang te hou. 'n Noodfonds sal beslis kleiner as in Suid-Afrika wees en almal se bydrae en opofferings sal nodig wees – nie net in kontant nie, maar elke dekbare ander manier.
Kom ons stel mekaar en ons land eerste.
Don't wait for a coronavirus lockdown
No one can say for certain how long the coronavirus pandemic will last, or how bad things will get.
Medical experts say it will be with us for some time. And things are getting worse.
The best way to avoid getting COVID-19 and slow the spread of the virus is to stay home unless it's absolutely necessary to travel.
The requests for all but the most essential workers to stay home don't go as far as the growing number of lockdown orders that have shuttered businesses and restricted residents to their homes in other parts of the country, but we need to heed them. If we fail to act responsibly, it's almost inevitable that we will face a far more restrictive lockdown.
Slowing the spread of the coronavirus will help protect our hospitals and medical community from quickly becoming overwhelmed.
Of course, there is a tremendous economic toll attached to all of these decisions.
An examination of our failure to prepare will be an important part of a necessary retrospective after the pandemic has subsided. This won't be the last pandemic we face, so it's imperative that we look back to make sure we are ready for the next one.
We must perform our civic duty by heeding the call to stay home as much as possible, washing our hands frequently and practicing social distancing. By doing our part, we can help slow the devastating spread of coronavirus.
• THE POST AND COURIER