The Ministry of Health and Social Services says the man who died at Mariental State Hospital on Friday did not succumb to Covid-19.

The Namibian reported online on Saturday that the man, who was employed by Namibia Wildlife Resort, and was based at its Hardap resort near Mariental, had sought treatment at the local hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms and breathing difficulties.

Speaking at the Covid-19 communication centre in Windhoek yesterday, deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue said on 12 May the patient visited a private doctor at Mariental after experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath and a productive cough.

Samples were taken from the patient to be tested for Covid-19, and he was kept in an isolation room while receiving treatment.

A swab test for Covid-19 was taken on 13 May and sent to the Namibia Institute of Pathology in Windhoek for testing," she said.