Otjiwarongo Mayor Bennes Haimbondi has asked Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua, as chairperson of the region's COVID -19 committee, to look into the pending case of a family from the Erongo Region who have requested to be allowed to bury a relative in Otjiwarongo, this weekend. Haimbondi says he is not in support of a decision to grant that family permission as they are coming from the Coronavirus epicentre of Namibia. He says the family’s arrival will cause panic and fear among residents of the town. He appealed to the committee to look into how to safeguard its citizens first as the town currently has no confirmed case or local transmissions. He made this statement today when delivering opening remarks at the COVID-19 stakeholders' consultative meeting at Otjiwarongo.