Uganda closed its borders in March to everyone except cargo planes and truck drivers. (Photo by Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 124 new conformed COVID-19 cases taking the East African nation’s caseload to 3,900.
13 of the cases were health workers accounting for 10.5 percent of all the new cases. Apac District in the northern region of Uganda accounted for most of these cases (three) followed by Lira (two). Eight other districts recorded one case each.
Since the start of September, the ministry has reported that 49 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation attributes infection of health workers to various factors including inadequate access to personal protective equipment, exposure to patients who do not show signs of the disease and repurposing of health workers for COVID-19 response without adequate briefing.
The capital, Kampala, registered the highest number of cases with 37 followed by Wakiso with 15 and Kitgum with 11.
Figures from the ministry also revealed that four returnees tested positive for COVID-19. They came from Kenya, Oman, Pakistan and Rwanda.
Moreover, two Ugandan truck drivers also tested positive for the virus having come from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Mpondwe and Lia border points.
The steady increase in COVID-19 cases in Uganda has prompted authorities to come out and remind the public to adhere to health regulations or else face a reinstatement of strict measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
One Congolese truck driver also tested positive and was denied entry into the country.
The ministry also reported two more deaths raising the nationwide death toll to 46.
“Two COVID-19 deaths registered. One male aged 53 years old from Paliisa District and one male aged 56 years from Jinja District. This brings the total COVID-19 deaths to 46.”
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