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 Sunday reported 270 new confirmed coronavirus cases raising the national total to 6,287.
Of the 270 cases, 240 were contacts and alerts while 29 were returnees and one was a truck driver.
The capital Kampala recorded the highest numbers of the 240 contacts and alerts with a total of 59 (about 22 percent) followed by Gulu with 56 cases. The other districts which recorded at least 10 cases were: Oyam (22), Mbale (17), Wakiso (15) and Moroto (10).
Of the 29 Ugandan returnees who tested positive for COVID-19, 25 were from Saudi Arabia while three were from India and one was from Norway. Meanwhile, the lone Ugandan truck driver who tested positive was from neighbouring Kenya.
The ministry did not report any new fatalities as the death toll remained at 63 while the number of recoveries rose to 2,616 after 35 more people recovered from the virus.
Over the last few weeks, Uganda has recorded a steady rise in COVID-19 cases prompting authorities to remind the public to adhere to health regulations or else face a reinstatement of strict measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
According to statistics, Uganda is experiencing a sharp rise in the number of infections later than the rest of the countries in the East African region, and, generally, the rest of Africa.
On Saturday, the ministry reported a new record number of daily infections with 423 cases surpassing the previous record of 326 cases reported a week ago.
In just the last four days, Uganda has reported a total of 1,021 cases, accounting for 16.23 percent of the total number reported since the country’s first case.
President Yoweri Museveni is set to address the nation later on Sunday on the current situation in the country with regard to the coronavirus and other related issues.
Follow our socials Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google News.
