Addis Abeba, Ethiopia | AFP | Millions of lost jobs, mounting debt woes and plunging remittances are among the economic hardships African countries can expect because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Union said in a study published Monday. “Nearly 20 million jobs, both in the formal and informal sectors, are threatened with destruction on …
Read More »Life in quarantine a nightmare: COVID-19 suspects
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rachael Namutebi, a student at the University of California is among many Ugandans who opted to return home when COVID-19 started ravaging developed parts of the world like the United States of America where she was based. At that time, Uganda was a sitting duck …
Read More »Lack of protective equipment hindering management of COVID-19 in Bushenyi, Rubirizi
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The shortage of protective gears in Bushenyi and Rubirizi districts is affecting the management of COVID-19 suspects. Most suspects are unattended to because health workers fear to go to the field without protective gear. Rubirizi District Health Officer, Dr Kisesete Tibenda, says they don’t have …
Read More »Ethiopia reports first two deaths from coronavirus
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia on Sunday announced the first two deaths of patients suffering from COVID-19, as officials ramped up testing to get a clearer picture of the outbreak there. The first victim was a 60-year-old Ethiopian woman who had spent six days in intensive care, a health …
Read More »COVID-19: Uganda’s confirmed cases up to 52
🔹 April 5 – 4 new cases – TOTAL 52 🔸 April 4 – 0 new cases – TOTAL 48 🔹 April 3 – 3 new cases – TOTAL 48 🔸 April 2 – 1 new case – TOTAL 45 🔹 March 31 – 11 new – TOTAL 44 Kampala, …
Read More »Bicycle mechanics cash in on suspension of public transport
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s directive that restricted use of private and public passenger vehicles has turned into a high-earning opportunity to bicycle mechanics in Masaka district who are now profiteering from the ban. In his address recently President Museveni asked people to stop driving public …
Read More »Jordan becomes latest Mideast country to deploy drones in virus response
Amman, Jordan | AFP | Jordan on Sunday started to deploy drones to fight the coronavirus pandemic, joining a host of Middle East countries using the technology to enforce curfews, deliver public health announcements and even monitor people’s temperatures. Jordan has declared five deaths and 323 cases of COVID-19 and says …
Read More »FULL SPEECH: Queen Elizabeth II says collective effort will defeat COVID-19
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday thanked healthcare workers on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, promising that a united effort would help defeat the disease. In a rare special televised address, the 93-year-old monarch drew on her experience in World War …
Read More »COVID-19: Lira diocese cancels baptism on easter
Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Lira Diocese announced that the holy ritual of baptism will not take place on Easter Day following the outbreak of the COVID -19. Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, the Bishop of Lira Diocese announced on Sunday that this year, there will be no baptism on …
Read More »COVID-19 causes big drop in business confidence in Uganda – Survey
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Business confidence in the country has fallen sharply for the first time since January 2017 as companies come to terms with Coronavirus (COVID -19) wave, a survey has shown. The Purchase Managers Index (PMI) for March 2020, a survey published by Stanbic bank and mainly …
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