By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Uganda COVID-19 cases has risen to 870 after Ministry of Health has confirmed eleven (11) new COVID-19 cases as a result of 2,330 samples tested on 28th June, 2020.
Among the new cases include Four (4) cases who are among 1,784 samples tested from Points of Entry and seven (07) who are among 546 samples of alerts and contacts with all confirmed cases being Ugandans.
In the same vein a total of thirty-four (34) foreign truck drivers (26 Kenyans, 5 Tanzanians, 1 Burundian, 1 Eritrean and 1 Somali) tested positive for COVID-19 and were handed over to their respective country of origin.
Among the new cases, Four (04) are truck drivers, other infections include Three (3) who arrived from Kenya (2 via Malaba and 1 via Busia) and one (1) arrived from South Sudan via Elegu Point of Entry.
While Seven (07) of the confirmed cases are alerts and contacts to previously confirmed cases that include six (6) from Tororo and one (1) from Koboko Districts.
As we report Uganda has registered a total of 808 COVID-19 recoveries, 190 active cases on admission and to-date, NO COVID-19 related death has been recorded.
Similarly, the Ministry is cognizant that there is a higher number of active cases on admission vis-a-vie confirmed cases.
Ministry says this is due to the fact that there are a number of non-nationals (truck drivers and refugees) who are receiving treatment for COVID-19.
The foreigners were admitted into care as we we prepare for their repatriation, and once settled in the health facility, they chose to complete their treatment in Uganda as opposed to repatriation to their respective countries.
“The foreigners were admitted into care as we prepare for their repatriation, and once settled in the health facility, they chose to complete their treatment in Uganda as opposed to repatriation to their respective countries” Ministry tweeted.
Among the non-nationals are; Rwandans, Sudanese, South Sudanese, Congolese, Kenyans, Tanzanians and Burundian refugees.
A couple of health facilities has been set to treat foreigners which include Mulago Specialised National hospital, Arua, Lira, Gulu, Mbale, Masaka, Mbarara and Kabale Regional Referral spitals.
It is important to note that the Ministry of Health, only reports Ugandan nationals who are confirmed cases. However, active cases on admission and total COVID-19 overies that are reported also include foreigners.
