Companies Ordered to Disinfect Vehicles, Maintain Social Distance

As a measure of preventing rapid spread of coronavirus in the country, the joint security task force has come out with additional enforcement mechanisms targeting the transport system.

Among the new measures, Police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga says all government vehicles are to be centralized at district headquarters for better response to medical concerns in their areas.

In addition, ambulances, vehicles for security operations, institutional vehicles shall operate under the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

Some government vehicles shall be used to back up ambulances in case there is an outbreak of numerous cases that may require rapid response.

Meanwhile, tighter guidelines have been tagged on private company vehicles despite being allowed to operate.

The President in his recent address only allowed company vehicles such as trucks carrying cargo and vehicles transporting essential workers, as well as service providers to move but under set operating procedures.

For instance, all vehicles used by private security organisations such as deployment trucks, Armed Personel carriers will continue to work but also under standard operating procedures issued by MOH and security task force.

“They should regularly disinfect their vehicles; observe safe distance and proper hygiene. All construction company vehicles are permitted to operate and carry workers in compliance of the standard operating procedures issued by MOH and security,” Enanga said in a statement

In a mini bus for instance, companies are required to transport up to 10 passengers instead of 26.

Meanwhile as factories shall continue operating in order not to disrupt the supply chain of commodities, proprietors have been ordered to observe the SOPs.

These include providing protective gear such as masks, disinfectants and screening of visitors and some workers to identify those with corona virus symptoms.

In general, the public have been reminded that it is critical for every Ugandan and visitors to follow the set guidelines.

Police also encouraged the public to report acts of noncompliance on 0800300100, 0713250391, 0714012734 and 0753997665.