Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi has announced a stimulus package to help individuals and businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. The relief measures for the business sector is to support cash flow and continued productive economic activities. The measures proposed include a N$400 million wage subsidy for the hardest-hit sectors to avoid further retrenchments. The ministry will also offer protection to households through the emergency income grant for 18 to 60-year-olds, those who do not benefit from any scheme. The payment will be made by Government, in collaboration with the Social Security Commission and other financial sector players as well as information communication technology partners within seven days, utilising the banking sector’s ATM infrastructure. Another scheme is the tax-back loan for tax registered and pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax-paying employees and self-employed individual persons who have lost income or part thereof or experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19 outbreak. Taxpayers can borrow an amount equal to one 12th of their tax payment in the previous tax year, to be repaid after one year. The water subsidy during lockdowns will ensure that water points are kept open without a need for water cards. This will be done through NamWater and local authorities to subsidise this critical service. The minister of Health announced two new positive COVId-19 cases today bringing the total to 13. Three people have recovered from the virus so far.