Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula today dispelled the false information stated by Republican president Henk Mudge over COVID-19. Mudge said COVID-19 should not have been declared a pandemic "when only about 140 people died [in Namibia] since the outbreak of the diseases". Shangula said a pandemic does not depend on the number of people killed. "A pandemic is an epidemic occurring worldwide, crossing international boundaries and affecting a large number of people. "First, Namibia has recorded 138 deaths due to or related to COVID-19 and not 140 as alleged. "Second, there may not even be a single death but it can still be declared a pandemic," said Shangula. He also said pandemics are declared by a specialised agency of the United Nations Organisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and not by any individual country. COVID-19 is indeed a pandemic as declared by the WHO as it has spread to all continents and all countries.