Coronavirus in Africa: Uganda, Nigeria COVID-19 cases rise

In Africa, Coronavirus sees Uganda with 33 cases, while Nigeria has confirmed 97 cases of COVID-19 and one death so far.

In Africa, Coronavirus sees Uganda shot to 33 cases, after confirming more three cases on Sunday evening.

As of today, Uganda has confirmed 33 patients with COVID-19 no death no recovery. The number of cases shot from 23 to 33 on Sunday the 29th after more than 3 confirmed cases was announced by the Health Ministry.

Out of the 206 samples of institutional quarantined people tested on Sunday, 203 tested negative, while three tested positives, the Ministry of Health said through its twitter handle.

“Three new cases of COVID-19 confirmed today, Sunday 29 March 2020. A total number of confirmed cases stands at 33 in Uganda. Out of 206 samples run today, 203 samples tested negative for COVID-19.”
- Advertisement -

In the tweet of President Museveni on the new confirmed cases, he explained that two of the three confirmed cases of COVID-19 were a wife and daughter of the Masaka man who was among the first nine confirmed cases.

“Two of these are wife and daughter of the man from Masaka who was among the first nine confirmed cases. On his return from Dubai, he went home to his family. After the first confirmed case, his community advised him to go for a checkup where he tested positive. Therefore, his wife and daughter were his closest contacts and had been quarantined in Entebbe.”

The third patient was also under institutional quarantine, after developing symptoms, where he tested positive. The victim is a 15-year teenager who came back from school in the UK on March 21, 2020.

Health Ministry says they are currently monitoring 1,001 cases, of which 812 are under institutional quarantine and 189 are under self-quarantine.

Uganda confirmed 33 COVID-19 cases — Uganda confirmed 33 cases of COVID-19. Photo/Twitter

According to John Hopkins University, over 34,000 people globally succumbed to COVID-19, with 723,000 total cases.

- Advertisement -

The US now has the world’s most confirmed novel coronavirus cases, with 139,700 cases with more than 2,400 deaths according to CNN counts and over 151,804 recoveries worldwide.

Related to that, Nigeria, the most populated nation in Africa with 190 million people has confirmed 97 COVID-19 cases and one death so far.

Now, following the rising cases on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a two-week lockdown in Lagos, Abuja to curb the deadly virus from further spreading.

- Advertisement -

“All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period,”.
Buhari announced

Buhari, however, said the restrictions do not apply to food shops, hospitals or gas stations.

“Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.”

Nigerian officials warn that the country risks seeing an “exponential” rise in cases unless contacts from suspected carriers are tracked more quickly.

Since tens of millions live in extreme poverty in Nigeria and rely on their daily livelihood earnings, President Buhari said relief items will be given to people living in Abuja and Lagos who are locked up.

“We are aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death. The authorities will deploy relief materials,”.
Buhari said

The relief materials will run for the two weeks lockdown in his communication, covering 200,000 households in the two cities.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil-producing country, but it is currently facing economic setbacks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, government revenue has fallen, and the government says it is considering cutting the budget this year.

Nigeria has also considered two months of taking care of the most vulnerable people in society, the elderly.