At least 45 students from two schools in Masaka district have been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus.
Dr Nathan Onyach, the director of Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, said the students, mainly in the boarding section, are being monitored at a COVID-19 treatment center.
Onyach said the surveillance team is still tracing all contacts to contain the spread of the virus among other students, teachers and the other staff or the surrounding communities.
He attributed the spread of the virus in schools to failure to observe the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as directed by the Ministry of Health.
He noted that there is no need to close the ill-fated schools since the patients are already admitted and receiving treatment at the hospital.
According to Onyach, it only requires one person to spread the disease throughout the school. He urged the school authorities to enforce SOPs, like social distancing, wearing a face mask, and regular washing of hands.
He explained that they have 16 health workers who are in self-isolation, adding that they are being monitored from their respective homes.
Onyach said people who cannot reasonably adhere to SOPs, while in self-isolation in their homes, will be forced to be in hospital, to avoid infecting family members.
He added that the pandemic has reached stage four when it is difficult to trace all the contacts, urging the school administrators and the learners to be more responsible by observing the SOPs.
New Vision