Bishop Sageus Keib of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia is asking for prayers for Namibia. He writes:

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Namibia, although politically stable was already a country in socio-economic crisis! Despite the efforts and achievements after independence in March 1990, food insecurity, malnutrition, overburdened and sometimes inefficient education and health systems, high unemployment rates and low levels of local economic development are still serious challenges. In the absence of economic security for the majority, precarious living conditions and poverty are still widespread. This all was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to secure livelihoods independent of wage labor became even more apparent. Thousands of jobs have already been lost and the national unemployment rate is likely to reach around 50% by the end of 2020.

Rev. Mark Beukes writes from Namibia that the number of COVID-19 cases has been increasing in recent weeks, and that the government is speaking of a second wave. Therefore, new restricitions have been implemented beginning December 16: Public gatherings are only allowed with 50 persons indoors and 100 person outdoors, with every participant registered (including their body temperature), and physical distancing. Face masks are mandatory in all public settings.