The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
🔸 79 confirmed cases
🔸 52 recoveries
🔸 13 active cases
🔹 23 truck drivers
🔹 14 Repatriated (Ky + Tz)
✳ 0 deaths
Kampala, Uganda |THE INDEPENDENT & URN | President Yoweri Museveni will at 8pm today deliver his 12th national address on the COVID-19 pandemic. He is expected to focus on the increasing cases of positive tests of truck drivers and how Uganda will ease the lock-down that currently runs up to May 5.
Of Uganda’s current 79 confirmed cases, 23 have been truck drivers in the past fortnight. Fourteen of these were from Kenya and Tanzania and have been returned home, while seven of them are being treated in the country.
There have been discussions between Uganda, Kenyan and Tanzanian officials on how best to manage the situation. Previously, Uganda was allowing truck drivers to continue on their journey as they await test results.
More tests
President Museveni is also expected to outline measures that could help Uganda ease the lock down after the 21 day period ends next week.
Other than the record number of recoveries, 52 out of 79 and not deaths, the other factor that could influence Museveni’s decision on how long the lock-down lasts will be 20,000 tests to be done in a survey in the next one week. Uganda has since the outbreak started, done only 27,432 tests, targeting mainly people who have recently returned from abroad.
The Ministry of Health today launched a rapid survey which will guide on lifting the Coronavirus COVID -19 lockdown. The survey will estimate the community prevalence of the virus.
Where is Corona Virus Disease COVID -19 in the community? This is the key question that a new survey launched this morning by the Ministry seeks to answer.
According to the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, this survey will involve a representative population of truckers and communities along their routes, health workers, market vendors, fishing communities, Taxi drivers, LDUs and religious leaders.
She said the survey is necessary because recently 13 truck drivers who tested positive with COVID -19 traveled through the country and yet not all contacts of the initial patients that have since been treated were tested in time.
Dr. Aceng said it’s better to do this assessment now when the lockdown is still on with less population movements. She says about 20,000 Ugandans will be asked brief information about themselves and then blood and a nasopharyngeal swab will be collected to test for COVID -19.
Currently the country is in week four of the lock down which was directed by President Yoweri Museveni to limit community transmission of the disease and indeed for more than a week, no case has been confirmed from the community even as the country has recorded 79 positive cases. Twenty three of the recent positive cases were of truck drivers.
Aceng says the results of this assessment survey will inform them whether the lock down will be lifted soon or not.
thax so much his excellence the president of the republic of uganda ,Doctors,and the community as far as the nation for the respect of detective of the President,
Thanks very much our president
Thanks very much Mr. President, the health team, the task force and community at large towards quitting COVID-19 which has put the world to panic.
Having read through the advert, i highly support Dr. Aceng’s complement upon having the checkout when the lockdown is still on. I really prefer that and urge my fellow stonch Uganda to abide by rules and regulations so as to keep a gorgeous smile ever. Thank you very much for your love
Wonderful,keep it up ,2021-2026