By Monica Kobusiinge
Kampala: Uganda’s electricity distributor has temporarily closed its technical centre at Lugolo in Kampala after three of their staff tested covid-19 positive.
This was confirmed by the Company’s Head of Communications, Peter Kaujju in a public notice on Wednesday September 2020.
“Umeme has been screening staff for covid-19 as part of the proactive measures in checking the spread of the virus. This week, samples were picked from some of our staff at the Lugogo Technical Centre in Industrial Area, Kampala by Lancet Laboratories and three (3) have tested positive for covid-19 as per the results issued on Tuesday 15 August 2020, ” reads the notice.
It adds,” We engaged the concerned staff and their families to offer our support and referred them to designated heath facility for further observation, management and treatment while their contacts are being traced as per the ministry of health protocols.”
According to Kaujju, the Lugogo technical Centre in industrial area will be temporarily closed for two (2) days effective today to allow disinfection.
” At Umeme, safety is our number one priority. we continue to implement and enforce the covid-19 mitigation measures of standard operating procedures as advised by the government, these include wearing of masks washing hands/sanitizing and social distancing among others,” notice adds.
In the same vein, today, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 143 new corona virus cases from tests done on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
This brings the total confirmed cases of Ugandans to 5,206.
According to MOH, 135 cases are alerts and contacts of previously confirmed cases.
Among the new infections include: Kampala (66), Buikwe (15), Lira (14), Mbale (7), Tororo (7), Soroti (5), Bundibugyo (3), Buvuma (3), Kiryandongo (8), Wakiso (2), Arya (1), Masaka (3) and Zombo (1).
The Ministry further revealed that 8 returnees with 4 from Oman, One from India, one from Senegal, one from UK and one from Ethiopia were infected with the coronavirus.
Uganda has also registered two Covid-19 deaths from Mbale and Soroti.
This rises the death toll to 60 while 2,404 people have recovered from Covid-19.
The Ministry has launched the randomized clinical trial for use of Covid-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) for treatment of Covid-19 in Uganda.
Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of health said during the launch said that the commencement of the trial will determine the efficiency of convalescent plasma in treating Covid-19.
A total of 162 Covid-19 convalescent plasma units have been collected. This, according to the ministry can be used to treat 65 patients.
Convalescent plasma is plasma from individuals who have recovered from an infection and it may contain antibodies against that infection.
“We are at phase IV of the outbreak. This means we have widespread community transmission. All our efforts are geared towards mitigation and use of CCP is one part of our strategies” Dr Aceng said while launching the clinical trials.
