COVID-19: All Truck Drivers Test Negative at Ugandan Border on Saturday

All the COVID 19 samples tested on Saturday treated negative for COVID 19.

These, according to the statement issued by Director General Health Services in the Ministry of Health Dr Henry Mwebesa, included truck drivers and samples from the community.

“Today (Saturday), all the 1408 samples tested were NEGATIVE for COVID 19 at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). Of these, 483 samples were from the community while 925 samples were from truck drivers at border points of entry,” said Dr Mwebesa in a statement on Saturday night.

4 Tanzanian and 6 Kenyan truck drivers who recently tested positive for COVID-19 have returned to their respective countries.

The total number of COVID 19 confirmed cases in Uganda stands at 75.

19 cases are under treatment in stable condition in different hospitals.

3 are at Mulago National specialized hospital, 9 at Entebbe Grade B hospital, 4 at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, 1 at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, 1 at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, and 1 at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital.

A total of 46 patients have since recoverd from COVID 19 and discharged from hospital.

A cumulative of 20,329 samples have been tested for COVID 19 in Uganda.

A total of 1616 contacts were listed for follow-up.

Out of these, 1323 have completed mandatory 14 day follow-up while 293 contacts to the confirmed cases are being followed up by surveillance teams of the Ministry of Health.

Tanzania’s cases rose to 299 with 15 new cases confirmed on Saturday.

The virus has so far killed ten people in Tanzania where authorities are yet to suspend gatherings or lock down cities.

Kenya’s cases have risen to 343 with 14 deaths while Rwanda comes third in highest number of infections in East Africa with 183 cases.