It’s Now Mandatory COVID-19 Testing At Borders: MoH ‘Wakes Up’ As Omicron Cases Surge

By Spy Uganda

Kampala: As the new COVID-19 variant-omicron shoots daily infections higher, the Ministry of Health has ‘remembered’ to tighten vigilance at border points to restrict infections from neighbouring countries.

According to the notice issued by the Ministry of Health, it’s now mandatory for all travellers to test for COVID-19 at border points before entering Uganda.

”All travellers and truck drivers entering Uganda shall be subjected to a mandatory Covid-19 PCR test at their own cost of UGX110,000 at every entry point,” says the Ministry of Health.

As if that’s not enough, the Ministry says health officials will only consider results only valid for seven days of truck drivers while in transit.

Ministry adds, “After taking off the samples, clients shall be allowed to proceed and results of travellers shall be sent to their email addresses while truck drivers will receive theirs on smartphones.”

The development comes at a time when the country is recording escalating numbers of daily infections. Results of COVID-19 tests done on 30 December 2021 confirmed 1,867 new cases bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 142,604.

The breakdown of the new cases is: 1,818 Alerts And Contacts: Kampala (1,031), Wakiso (286), Gulu (75), Soroti (64), Jinja (34), Rakai (25), Kibuku (23), Kayunga (22), Mbarara (20), Iganga (18), Masindi (17), Mbale (20), Sironko (19), Mayuge (14), Bududa (13), Luweero (13).

Others are; Oyam (12), Abim (8), Mukono (7), Buyende (8), Nakasongola (7), Kalaki (6), Tororo (9), Namisindwa (6), Kitagwenda (6), Hoima (6), Adjumani (7), Gomba (2), Kiryandongo (2), Amuru (2), Kiruhura (2), Kabarole (2), Kabale (1), Butaleja (1), Moroto (1), Wakiso (1), Mukono (1).

And lastly; Arua (1) Kyotera (16), Busia (7), Amuru (3) 49 Truck drivers; Tororo (25), Kyotera (23), Amuru (1).

(https://artandhistory.org)