KAMPALA — Starting on Friday June 11, the United Arab Emirates will suspend entry for travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zambia as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The state news agency WAM made the announcement on Wednesday.
Last week, the DR Congo announced a third wave which the Health ministry described as “very worrying” in the face of a “considerable increase” in the number of cases and deaths over the last four weeks.
The capital Kinshasa was identified as the epicenter with residents reportedly ignoring public safety instructions issued by the ministry and declining to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Uganda is currently facing a second wave of the pandemic, which is more deadly and devastating. Health experts say the wave is worse than the first one since it is more transmissible and affecting young people.
Since the beginning of the month, Uganda has reported more than 5,000 new cases, the majority of them in Kampala, and more than 20 deaths from the deadly disease.
The government recently reinstated some of its lockdown measures to contain the second wave of the pandemic.
On the other hand, in Zambia, the government warned that health facilities are already being strained as a third wave sweeps the country with the number of severe cases and those requiring oxygen increasing on a daily basis.
Additional reporting from international wires
