COVID-19 Cases Soar to 248 Ahead of Much Awaited Presidential Address

By Wilson Kakuru On May 18, 2020 1,412

Director General Health Services Dr Henry G. Mwebesa briefing the nation recently. PHOTO MOH

The Ministry of Health has announced 21 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 248.

All the new confirmed cases are Ugandan nationals.

According to the ministry of health, 17 new cases were identified at Elegu border post, 3 from Mutukula and one from Malaba border.

The 21 cases all truck drivers were out of the 1,071 samples analyzed on Sunday while all the 253 community samples returned negative for the virus.

This comes hours before President Museveni’s address slated for Monday at 8 PM.

So far, the total number of recoveries that have henceforth been discharged is 63 with no deaths from the virus so far.

In a statement signed by Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director General Services explained the delay in releasing the Sunday COVID-19 update as it has been the cases since the outbreak.

“Following the Presidential directive of only allowing in truck drivers who test negative, he said samples had to be sorted appropriately.

“Samples had to be divided between UVRI and NHLS for a quick turn around time. Testing at NHLS started at 7.30 pm last evening,” he said.

“Ugandan truck drivers who test positive will be evacuated directly to hospitals, Dr. Mwebesa said.