By Spy Correspondent
Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for caution as African airlines begin operations in various countries.
The Organisation urged governments to ensure airlines take information of passengers travelling and follow up with them to prevent surges in coronavirus infections.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said air travel was important for the economy but “new normal still requires stringent measures to stem the spread of Covid-19”.
The organisation advised airport officials to ensure guidelines set by government health authorities that includes social distancing, hand washing and sanitisation etc.
The WHO says Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Zambia have already resumed commercial flights.Tunisia re-opened its airspace to commercial flights on 27 June.
The organisation cited a surge in Seychelles related to travel “in the last week, 66 new cases – all crew members of an international fishing vessel – have been recorded”.
This comes at a time when more Ugandans who had been stranded abroad over global Coronavirus-induced lockdown returned home in huge numbers specifically yesterday and today.
Mr Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says over 400 Ugandans returned home yesterday aboard flights from South Africa, UK, Eswatini and Italy.
Notable, among those who returned home yesterday is Acholi paramount chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II and Professor Francis Omaswa.
Mean while those from India and the United Arab Emirates will take off today and tomorrow respectively.
This is after the ministry released a repatriation schedule for Ugandans and non-Ugandan resident permit holders stuck abroad.
“The schedule is based on readiness of the people abroad and the capacity of quarantine centers in the country to determine the number that should be returned in a given period of time,” Mr Mugoya said.
Earlier, Foreign affairs Minister Sam Kuteesa called on parliament to fully support the Ministry of Health, the other frontline agencies and his Ministry to arrange for an orderly and safe return of Ugandans stranded abroad.
