Given the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of WorldSkills Africa Swakopmund 2022 (WSAS2022), in partnership with the Republic of Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services and the official event venue, ‘The Dome’ – have established a safe and healthy environment for Africa’s skills community as an important priority.
Gathering Africa’s skills community in a safe and healthy environment is our main priority.
The WSAS2022 COVID-19 Policy captures appropriate measures and responses designed to ensure the safety and security of teams, officials and participants – before, during and immediately after the event. Against broader measures and safety protocols put in place by the Republic of Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services, it proposes specific actions to be considered in the event of an individual feeling unwell or taking ill.
The organizers have taken care to provide and maintain an event environment that is safe and without risk to the health of participants. However, there rests a duty on participants to take reasonable care for their health and safety and that of their fellow participants. As such, full adherence to the guidelines prescribed herein is of utmost importance. Failure to comply with these standards and parameters may result in firm action by the organizers, including immediate elimination from the competition and removal from the venue.
Click here to download the WSAS2022 COVID-19 Policy and Guidelines.
Fully vaccinated Namibians, permanent residence permit holders, diplomats or people with diplomatic passports, officers on missions and their families, domiciles and their children, truck drivers, ambulance services and persons providing specialised and technical public health services will no longer be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result upon entry into Namibia. The above-mentioned categories of people can enter the country at any time with a valid and authentic vaccination card.
In terms of the recently updated COVID-19 Regulations, persons travelling to Namibia can be granted access to the Country via any point of entry in terms of the following classifications:
- An Individual can be granted access if they present a valid SARS-COV2 PCR negative test result not older than 72 hours (from date sample taken) and such results were issued by a certified laboratory in country of issue to issue such results;
– Travelers must have a PanaBOIS (Trusted Travel) System pass. Pass generated, once COVID-19 test results are uploaded on the system.
OR
- An Individual can be granted access if they present a valid de-isolation certificate, not older than three months from the date of discharge from isolation. This de-isolation certificate must be issued by the official health authority in the country of departure;
OR
- An individual can be granted access if they present a valid vaccination certificate showing that such person is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It must be issued by a person or authority certified or authorized to administer CVODI-19 vaccines and to issued vaccination certificates in any country.
If any of the three are in place, then access can be granted as far as COVID-19 requirements are concerned.
Namibia has officially pronounced the end of its fourth COVID-19 wave. As a result, some measures have been relaxed. This includes an increase in the number of attendees at public gatherings from 500 to 1 000 persons per event. Maintenance of the minimum physical social distance should apply and depending on the size of the venue, the number of attendees should be adjusted accordingly to comply with the minimum physical distancing requirement of 1,5 meters.
The duration of the new public health measures will run from 16 March to 15 April 2022. The measures remain amenable to further adjustments should the situation changes for the worse, which is not anticipated at this stage.
The WSAS2022 COVID-19 Policy aligns with the Public Health COVID-19 General Regulations of the Republic of Namibia, published in its official Government Gazette. Accordingly, the guidelines contained therein are premised on protocols by Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services and remain subject to adjustments and changes.
Furthermore, changes to content may also be introduced as further experience is gained and/or in line with infection status, before and during the event. The organizers commit to keeping participants abreast of any such potential changes through this webpage.
Participating countries must appoint an Official COVID-19 Officer from their delegation (preferably the Team Leader) to be responsible for managing and attending to all COVID-19 measures, requests, and issues on behalf of the entire delegation.
In this context, delegations are defined to include all persons that have booked an official WSAS2022 Package via the official WorldSkills Registration System, namely: Competitors; Team Leaders; National Experts; Chief Experts; Country Representatives; Observers; Sponsors and any Media/Press who have registered for accreditation, via participating countries.
Official COVID-19 Officer responsibilities include:
- Sensitizing their respective delegations on specific measures;
- Ensuring their delegations fully comply with the COVID-19 measures in place; and
- Ensuring that the correct processes are followed should a positive COVID-19 case amongst members of their delegation occur.
Section 2.2.1 of the WSAS2022 COVID-19 Policy and Guidelines elaborate on the role and responsibilities of the Official COVID-19 Officer. Once confirmed by the organizers, this person (and only this person) will be integrated into the WSAS2022 COVID-19 related communications.
Country representatives must appoint and email the name and contact of the appointed Official COVID-19 Officer to covid@wsas2022.com.na
A dedicated team is to coordinate COVID-19 safety and compliance at WSAS2022. Other tasks assigned to this unit include communication with country Covid-19 Officers; daily briefings; and quality assurance.
Erastus Shaningwa coordinates this unit and is supported by team members Bertha Kankono, Williams Wilson, Auguste Abisai and Julia Shilongo.
They are to do this work in partnership with the event venue team and the contracted health and safety service providers.
The Namibia Institute of Pathology is a Namibian public enterprise and renders on-site PCR testing services at WSAS2022. A test costs 750.00 NAD, which is equal to about 49.5 USD. Testing is done daily before 10h00 am and results are made available within 24 hours. A copy of a valid passport is required for testing.
For more information on the WSAS2022 COVID-19 health and safety and other arrangements, contact the event’s COVID-19 Coordinator.
WSAS2022 COVID-19 Coordinator
Erastus Shaningwa
+264 61 207 8550
covid@wsas2022.com.na
1. What are the COVID-19 testing requirements to enter Namibia?
International visitors and/or delegates to WSAS2022 wishing to enter Namibia must upon arrival present to an authorized person a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result from the country of departure, which test result – (a) is not older than 72 hours calculated from the date that the sample for testing was taken; and (b) was issued by a laboratory that is certified in the country of issue, to issue SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results.
2. What are the airports for entry of non-Namibians wishing to attend WSAS2022?
International visitors and/or delegates to WSAS2022 entering Namibia by air may only enter the country through Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, or Walvis Bay Airport, in Walvis Bay.
3. Are there COVID-19 testing stations at Walvis Bay airport as the closest airport to WSAS2022?
There is not a COVID-19 testing site at the Walvis Bay airport. However, testing facilities are available in the CBD. Furthermore, arrangements have been made with the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) for remote testing to be done at the event venue to accommodate delegates who require test results to enable them to return home.
4. What if a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result is negative, but older than 72 hours?
Visitors and/or delegates who enter Namibia with a negative test result older than 72 hours calculated from the date that the sample for testing was taken will be subjected to mandatory supervised quarantine and must be tested for COVID-19, at his or her own cost and- (a) if that person tests positive for COVID-19, he or she will be placed in isolation at his or her own cost; and (b) if that person tests negative for COVID-19, he or she must be released from quarantine.
If there are any delays in flights, no exemptions applied, access will be denied if test results are not within the 72 hours’ mark. This test must be taken by accredited institutions recognized by PanaBOIS (Trusted Travel System
https://africacdc.org/trusted-travel/
If a traveler tested positive for COVID-19, but has been issued with a de-isolation certificate, then this MUST be produced. Travelers must also have a PanaBOIS (Trusted Travel) System pass, which iis generated, once COVID-19 test results are uploaded on the system. If a traveler does not possess this pass, access will be denied.
5. What about a person with a negative test result, but who has travelled from or through a COVID-19 high risk country, as designated by the Health Minister?
International visitors and/or delegates to WSAS2022 who enters Namibia after having presented a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result must, if he or she originated from or travelled through a country designated by the Health Minister as a COVID-19 high risk country, be subjected to a repeat SARS-CoV-2 PCR test after seven days from the date of his or her entry into Namibia.
6. What countries are currently designated as ‘high risk’ countries?
There is currently no country regarded as high risk by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
7. Who is to be isolated?
In terms of Namibia’s regulations, every person who is a confirmed COVID-19 case must subject himself or herself to mandatory supervised isolation. In this context ‘isolation’ means segregation or separation from and interdiction of communication with others, of persons who are ill or are suspected of being infected with COVID-19. The isolation period is 10 days.
8. Can COVID-19 isolation/quarantine facilities be used by non-Namibians (WSAS2022 international delegates)?
Anyone that is COVID-19 positive and needs to be hospitalized can be accommodated at Public Hospitals. However, there are two private hospitals, namely Welwitschia Hospital (Walvis Bay) and Cottage Hospital (Swakopmund) that are able to provide isolation facilities to patients with medical aid. Similarly, there are hotels that can accommodate people who are not able to isolate at home at own cost.
9. In terms of potential isolation and quarantine, will a delegate who may test positive during the event have to isolate or quarantine in the same establishment?
Yes, he/she should for the duration of the isolation or quarantine stay in the same establishment.
10. What if a delegate test positive just before departure, should he/she also stay in the same establishment for the duration of isolation or quarantine?
Yes, but the delegate will have to cover the additional days at their own expense. A de-isolation certificate is to be issued provided the delegate does not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. This certificate can be used to travel to back to the country of origin.