By Frank Kamuntu
Uganda’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have this week swiftly jumped to 61 from 57, a situation seemingly alarming, compared to the strong measures on ground to combat the virus.
According to the press release by the Ministry of Health, one new COVID -19 case tested positive from the 651 samples taken from truck drivers at border points of entry.
“All 368 samples taken from the community and quarantine centers tested negative for COVID-1, a total of 1,019 samples were tested yesterday at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (VRI),” the statement says.
The Ministry of health goes ahead to remind Ugandans that the revised total number of confirmed COVID-19 Cases are 61.
The confirmed case is a 32 year old Kenyan truck driver who arrived at Malabar post from Kenya. He did not have any signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
This suspect was tested as part of the standard procedure for all care transporters entering Uganda. Arrangements to evacuate him to Entebbe Hospital treatment are underway.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), require that every case is counted and treated in a country where it was tested and confirmed; therefore, basing on this background, Uganda is required to add the five (5) positive foreign track drivers to its statistics.
The cases include; one Tanzanian and 4 Kenyans plus 2 cases who had earlier gone back to their respective home countries; Kenya and Tanzania.
However, in the same vein, the Ministry of Health issued a clarification about COVID-19 bodies that were recently repatriated to Uganda, acknowledging media reports that bodies of two deceased Ugandans who arrived from Dubai, UAE and Doha, Qatar had been intercepted at Entebbe International Airport.
The body arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Saturday 18th April, 2020.
According to the MoH, the documentation that came with the bodies indicates that the cause of death of the individual from Dubai, UAE was an accident, not COVID-19 as earlier alleged.
