By Fred Kiva
The Ministry of Health has confirmed 14 new covid-19 cases got from 1084 samples from the community and tested contacts.
In a statement, the Director General of Health Services Dr.Henry G. Mwebesa said all the confirmed cases are contacts to previously confirmed truck drivers who were under quarantine at the time of testing.
“A total of 655 samples from the various points of entry. A total of 1739 samples were tested. The total confirmed Covid-19 cases in Uganda is now 212,” Dr. Mwebesa said.
He added that five foreign truck drivers, all Tanzanians who arrived via Mutukulu point of entry tested positive for COVID-19 and were handed back to their respective countries of origin bringing the total number of foreign truck drivers handed over to 221.
The rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Uganda has since been attributed to foreign truck drivers, especially those from Kenya and Tanzania, who freely interact with Ugandans, thus infecting them with the contagious virus. Kenya and Tanzania are hit hard by COVID-19.
Recently President Museveni said Uganda is in talks with Kenya, Tanzania and other East African states to seek ways of controlling the virus spread.
Particulars
Five of the cases; two are males, three females and residents of Adjumani district; contacts of previously confirmed truck drivers. Four of the cases are Ugandan females, residents of Kumi district, and contacts of previously confirmed truck drivers.
Two of the cases are one male and female, residents of Wakiso district and contacts of previously confirmed truck drivers, among others.
Currently, there are 161 admitted COVID-19 cases in 10 regional referral hospitals in the country. All are in stable condition. To date, Uganda has registered a total of 68 recoveries and no COVID-19 related death recorded.
