The Ministry of Health and Social Services has instructed all public hospitals countrywide to ban visitors until further notice due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. This was confirmed by the ministry's Executive Director Ben Nangombe, who told NAMPA yesterday they are discouraging visits by family and friends to protect patients who are already sick and in a vulnerable state. In an internal memo, the ministry instructed public hospitals to prohibit visitors as from 19 December. Nangombe said the rising community infections place many people at risk and the ministry wants to ensure that the risk of the virus being spread to patients is minimised. Namibia had 3 075 active COVID-19 cases yesterday when the ministry also announced 585 new cases.