COVID-19 infection up in young people-MOH

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is a signification of Covid-19 cases among young people between 10 and 29 years of age, the Ministry of Health has revealed. According to the Ministry, there is a 12 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 infection among people between 10-19 years and 5 percent increase in the ages between 20 and 29years. 

Whereas this is partly attributed to complacency by young people in observing the Standards of Operating Procedures set by the Ministry to contain the spread of the virus, Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng notes that this is a sign of the second wave of the pandemic.  

Earlier last week, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) detected the Indian COVID-19 variant in Kampala, which prompted the Ministry of Health to suspend all flights between Uganda and India effective May 1, 2021. The variant also referred to as -B.1.617 was detected from travellers returning from Indian. 

The variant was detected when some travellers went for testing after feeling unwell.  The Ministry has stepped prevention measures requiring all travellers including children entering the country to test for COVID-19.  The ministry has asked private laboratories not to charge more than Shillings 231, 550 (65US $) to ensure all travellers test.  According to the Ministry, those found positive will be evacuated to isolation centers. 

Dr. Misaki Wayengera, an epidemiologist on the COVID-19 task force confirms the second wave of the virus noting that surveys will be carried out at the district level to determine drivers for the increased infections. Reports already indicate that the country has so far detected over 300 cases of COVID-19 variants from other countries. According to scientists, there are six COVOD-19 strains circulating in the country at the moment. 

These include variants from South Africa, Nigeria, India and the UK. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in India with over 300,000 cases being reported daily. Authorities in India attribute the spike in cases to the Indian variant, which they say has contributed over 50 per cent of the cases.

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