KAMPALA — The Ministry of Health has confirmed 15 new COVID-19 cases—increasing Uganda’s cumulative total to 848 infections.
The cases that were drowned from 2,868 samples analysed on Friday June 25 include 12 community infections and 3 truck drivers.
The truck drivers were identified from different border entry points including Mirama Hills (1) Malaba (1) and Elegu (1).
The other twelve cases were identified from communities including the 10 cases from Tororo district. This week alone, Tororo has produced more than 30 cases making it one of the country’s epicentres.
Other 2 cases were identified from Luwero and Amuru.
Additionally, 13 foreign truck drivers were handed over to their respective countries of origin after they tested positive for coronavirus in Uganda.
The Ministry of Health says total recoveries have reached 780.
Addressing the nation from State House Nakasero on Monday, Presoy Museveni warned that Uganda has entered a “dangerous phase”, illustrated by the emergence of new positive cases within the population, in the areas of Kyotera and Amuru and now Tororo.
He however said that as a result of the measures Uganda put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the country has managed “to blunt the invasion of the virus”.
“From the results of the tests for the last 96 days, the number of drivers that are testing positive is reducing. Unfortunately, we are getting new positives case from within the population that are mostly linked to either the drivers or the infiltrators from the neighbouring countries”
“Hence, 62 of the positive cases are from Kyotera and 59 are from Amuru. This is on account of the elements that come through the porous borders. Since many people end up in Kampala and with the opening of the public transport system, although with some restrictions, we are beginning to see cases in Kampala. The number is now 37.”
“We are, therefore, entering a more dangerous phase. Previously, the problem was from the returnees from abroad, from the drivers and from those who pass through the porous borders from the neighbouring countries. However, with the re-opening of the public transport and the movement of private cars, we are beginning to get cases of people who are positive but whose source of infection you cannot easily trace. If somebody picked the infection in a bus or a taxi where people were not observing the SOPs, how will you easily trace those who were in the bus or taxi with him or her?”
