2 New Cases of COVID 19 Recorded in Uganda as a Man in Masindi Tests Positive

The ministry health has confirmed 2 cases of COVID 19 bringing the total number of infected people in Uganda to 85.

One of the case is a 35 year Kenyan truck driver who entered Uganda via Busia border but later returned to Kenya according to the tracking system.

Another case is a Ugandan male from Masindi in western Uganda who was confirmed from random (rapid assessment survey) testing

This has raised fears of COVID 19 prevalence in some parts of Uganda which is still under lockdown. till May 5th.

This survey will evaluate if there is community transmission of COVID 19 virus in local communities.

This week, the ministry of Health started rapid assessment survey among high-risk groups to establish community transmission that will determine the lifting or extension of lockdown on May 5.

Previously, testing was concentrated on returnees and their contacts before it was extended to truck drivers and now to high-risk communities including the members of the army, police, Local Defence Unit (LDU) officers, market vendors and the communities along the highways.

Out of 2,454 samples tested at the Uganda Virus Research Institute on Friday, all 399 samples from the community tested negative for COVID-19.

The ministry of Health says to date, a total of 27 truck drivers have tested positive for coronavirus disease in Uganda, 17 of which have returned to their respective countries in Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya on Friday registered 15 new cases and 4 new deaths. Their national tally now stands at 411 with 21 deaths and 150 recoveries.

Tanzania still remains East Africa’s most infected country with 480 cases, 16 deaths and 167 recoveries. No new data has been released for two days as President Pombe Magufuli believes that daily updates cause unnecessary panic among the public.

Rwanda’s cases rose to 249 after 6 new cases and 5 new recoveries were recorded on Friday. Rwanda’s Health ministry attributed the new cases to truck drivers.

Rwanda’s cabinet resolved to ease the lockdown starting May 4 but all resumed services must adhere to health guidelines that include hand hygiene, mandatory face mask-wearing and social distancing. Movements from 8 pm to 5 pm will be prohibited except with permission.

Funeral gatherings must not exceed 30 people while markets are to resume with essential vendors not exceeding 50 percent of registered traders. Hotels and restaurants will resume operations but will not exceed 7pm.
Schools and places of worship will remain closed until September 2020.

Bars, gyms and public transport between different provinces and Kigali city is not permitted. Meetings in public spaces and mass gatherings are prohibited.