The Namibian Government has ruled out closing borders with South Africa despite a new variant of COVID-19 discovered in that country. As soon as COVID-19 virus entered Namibia in March, Government swiftly closed borders and banned international travel to various countries with the exception of South Africa. The borders with the southern neighbour were kept open for humanitarian charter flights and because more than half Namibia's imports are from there. South Africa is now experiencing a new strain of COVID-19, believed to deadlier and a number of countries have suspended flights to that country but the Namibian government has ruled out that possibility for now. Another argument is that the virus is already in Namibia. The travel restrictions and closing borders will be informed by the situation on the ground in line with public health and environmental laws. The Health Ministry could not confirm whether the new COVID-19 variant is present Namibia just yet as no tests were conducted. Health Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula says health workers are monitoring the strain closely. But, its presence, if detected, he says, will only intensify national response measures to COVID-19 without any changes.