KAMPALA — The Ministry of Health says 16 Ugandans have tested positive for coronavirus after 3455 samples were analyzed on Wednesday June 24. The results including 11 community infections as virus spread to new districts such as Kakumiro and Luwero.
The new confirmed cases have pushed Uganda’s cumulative total to 821 infections while recoveries according to latest updates have also increased to 731.
Five of the new cases are truck drivers; four arrived from South Sudan via Elegu while one arrive from Kenya via Malaba border entry.
The other cases alert and contacts to previously confirmed cases in the hotspots of Kyotera (4) Amuru (4) and and Tororo (1) Districts.
Other two cases came from Kakumiro and Luwero districts.
As the country struggles to contain COVID-19 cases to minimum numbers and with no deaths reported so far, Ugandans have been urged to take bold and unprecedented steps to curtail the spread of the virus.
UNAIDS Country Director in Uganda Dr Karusa Kiragu has noted that while there have been relatively low cases and no death reported due to COVID-19, it is critical to stem the spread of the novel COVID-19 considering the country’s fragile health systems and extreme socio-economic inequalities.
Dr Kiragu was speaking during the handover of hygiene packs to the community of people living with HIV through the National Forum of People Living with HIV Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), at their offices in Mengo, Kampala on Wednesday.
She called on Ugandans to continue practicing hand washing as a key strategy in the prevention of COVID-19. “The more we continue to leave our homes to go to work, it’s very important to continue observing social distancing, wearing of masks and wash hands, she said, adding: “We all know that the best protection for those at home even those at work or accessing various services is washing hands and disinfecting surfaces that we touch.”
