Uganda COVID-19 cases at 85 after more people test positive

Uganda’s COVID-19 cases at 85 after two more people test positive.

Uganda COVID-19 cases at 85 now, after two more people tested positive for the Coronavirus disease.

According to the Ministry of Health, a 35 years old male truck driver from Kenya who entered the country via Busia and a Ugandan male from Masindi confirmed throughout the community are the two confirmed cases.

Health Ministry says by the time the results of the Kenyan truck driver came out, he had already returned to Kenya. According to Health Ministry officials, they do not know how many people he came into contact with while in Uganda.

This brings the total number of truck drivers that have been confirmed with COVID-19 to 27. All of the 2,454 samples were tested at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and the University Hospital of Makerere on Friday 1 May 2020.

Of the 27 truck drivers confirmed with COVID-19, 17 returned to their respective countries, while 10 received treatment in Ugandan hospitals.

In the meantime, health officials are conducting investigations to determine how the man in Masindi was infected with coronavirus, whether through contact with the established case or community transmission.

In a related story, 9 Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) officials in Somalia are isolated after contact with a confirmed coronavirus case in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu.

This was after UPDF confirmed the coronavirus case on Wednesday night of a soldier attached to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) who is currently receiving treatment.

Deputy Spokesperson UPDF, Lt. Col Deo Akiiki said the confirmed case showed signs of flu and cough but is currently in stable condition with isolated contacts.

Akiiki states that all measures are observed to prevent the spread of coronavirus at their bases, and the Base Camp Task Force and Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) have been established.

“Hands wash points have been installed in base camp and forward operating bases. All shops and bases except banks have been closed, while the base camp where the UPDF main base is, is under total lockdown for two weeks,” Akiiki said.

Akiiki adds that the social distance is maintained because all meetings have so far been suspended and if all contingent commanders wish to speak to the soldiers, the health guidelines are strictly followed.

“We have distributed COVID-19 awareness and mitigation booklets in the base camp and the operating bases. Measures to minimize movement of soldiers have also been put in place. There’s a curfew from 6:00 pm to 5:00 pm”.

Akiiki said

UPDF also distributed disinfectants, hand sanitizers and face masks to all their bases and also established an insulation centre at L11 Field / Hospital to manage any coronavirus cases.

Somalia has 601 cases of coronavirus, 31 cases of recovery and 28 deaths.