The Ministry of Health has announced 318 new COVID-19 cases in Uganda, making it the highest total recorded in a single day since the start of the pandemic.
Hit hardest is Amuru Prison, where 153 inmates have been found to be positive with the Coronavirus.
Amidst the rising cases, the Ministry of Health has also mentioned several institutions in Kampala including Malaysia Furnishing, Royal Pharma, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, IGG, KCCA,Toyota, NRM Secretariat, Eagle Holdings, Megha Industries, media houses New Vision, NBS,NTV,BBS and private hospitals, which have reported clusters.
“This highlights the need to ensure that workplaces strictly observe the Standard Operating Procedures and Infection, Prevention and Control measures to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Minister of Health Ruth Aceng said.
Uganda has also recorded 1 COVID-19 death, a 49 year old male from Mbale district bringing the total cumulative COVID-19 deaths to 20.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Uganda is 2,166.
Case of Amuru Hospital
The Ministry of health instituted an investigation after one of the prisoners at Amuru prisons presented with COVID-19 like signs and symptoms last week.
“In light of the above, the Ministry of Health undertook further investigations in Amuru Prisons. Out of the 205 inmates, 153 inmates tested positive. Out of the 28 prison staff, 1 tested positive for COVID-19,” said Aceng.
The Ministry working with Uganda Prisons Services has since relocated all the confirmed 152 inmates to Gulu Central Prison which is acting as an auxiliary isolation facility.The prison staff is admitted in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
The inmates are currently being attended to by a combined team from Mulago National Referral Hospital and Gulu RRH supporting the Uganda Prisons Services health team for appropriate management.
Question of vigilance?
On March 30, President Museveni announced a nationwide lockdown in effort to stop the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) after the cases increased in Uganda.
By then, Uganda had registered only 33 cases of the deadly viral disease, with the first imported case recorded on March 21.
But elsewhere, Covid-19 was already ravaging other countries, with more than 782,000 people infected and another 37,500 recorded dead.
Mr Museveni ordered shut Uganda’s transport system, tourism sector, most businesses, malls and arcades, non-food stores and markets. He imposed curfew from 6pm to 6am.
Only a few essential sectors were allowed to operate but under strict guidelines.
The tough measures that were regularly preached by President Museveni and the Health ministry included wearing masks, washing hands with soap or sanitising them and keeping both physical and social distancing.
The President then said the tough measures had to be taken because some people had become undisciplined and had violated earlier and softer preventive measures.
However, after four months, the President relaxed the lockdown, but with the rigorous restrictions to stop Covid-19 left in place.
But two months into the ‘new normal’ ways of doing things, Ugandans have relaxed vigilance and are violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to stop the spread of Covid-19. Now, with more than 1,750 cases as of Thursday, the population seems not bothered about the pandemic that is on the rise.
A recent study by Whitehead Communications Ltd, between July 6 and July 15 on public opinion and self-reported behaviour regarding Covid-19, revealed that 78 per cent of Ugandans have relaxed vigilance on Covid-19.