Taskforce in Kabale struggles to trace contacts of COVID-19 positive truck driver

Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kabale district covid-19 task force is struggling to trace the contacts of a truck driver who was intercepted at Uganda-Rwanda border of Chanika last week after testing positive to COVID-19.

The truck driver who is currently admitted at Kabale regional referral hospital was intercepted while heading to Mombasa on return from Rwanda. However, it has emerged that the driver spent a night in Kabale town.

Darius Nandinda, Kabale Resident District Commissioner says that the truck driver told health workers that he made a stopover in Kigongi, Kabale town and had refreshment at Manhattan Hotel before he later slept in his truck.

Nandinda, however says that the driver has refused to tell the health authorities if he came into contact with any person especially sex workers who are common in Kabale town.

Alfred Besigensi, the acting Kabale District Health Officer calls for calm. He notes that tracing contacts is a challenge but calls for vigilance among members of the public so that the contacts are reported to authorities for management.

Sophie Namasopo, director of Kabale regional referral hospital says that the truck driver is steadily improving. Namasopo says that since the driver made a stopover in Kabale, members of the public need to intensify COVID-19 preventive measures like hand washing and social distancing among others.

Four more contacts of the driver are under quarantine in Kisoro district. They include a turn boy of the truck, an ambulance driver and two money changers.

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