COVID-19 Crisis: Uganda Confirms 84 New Cases; Museveni to Address Nation on Monday

The Ministry of Health this past Saturday confirmed 84 new COVID-19 cases in Uganda bringing the total number of cases in the country to 413.

“Today 30th May 2020, 84 new COVID-19 cases confirmed. Total confirmed cases are now 413,” the Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning.

This is the biggest number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Uganda in a single day since the outbreak of the pandemic earlier this year.

Of the 84 new cases, 52 are truck drivers; 50 arrived from South Sudan via Elegu while 2 arrived from Kenya via Busia border.

The rest 32 new cases are contacts to previously confirmed positive cases and were all under quarantine at the time of testing.

Ghe development underscores the state of affairs in South Sudan where Vice Presidents have since tested positive for Coronavirus.

Meanwhil, 51 positive foreign truck drivers were handed back to their respective country of origin as per the presidential directive to allow only COVID-19 negative foreign truck drivers into the country.

 

To counter there spread of Coronavirus in the region, East African Community Partner States in May 30 adopted the EAC Regional Electronic Cargo and Drivers Tracking System that will be hosted at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The system is expected to share truck driver’s information leveraging on that which is managed and operated by Revenue Authorities in the region, and the existing health information systems in Partner States.

The system allows the users to share information across borders in a transparent manner, and the truck drivers will need to upload the phone app on their phones.

Continuous screening will be done at selected check points along the transport corridors, which have already been designated, and information made available for all Partner States.

ChimpReports understands the system will facilitate a common approach to certifying results of those tested for COVID-19, by using the system to generate a COVID-19 test certificate for drivers and crew members.
Consequently, the generated COVID-19 certificate for drivers and crew members who have undergone tests would be shared with all respective stakeholders both at accredited designated testing points and border crossing points in the region.

This certificate that is recognised in the EAC is expected to be valid for 14 days, and would allow the owner to travel in the region without being subjected to re-testing unless he or she is found to have signs and symptoms for COVID -19, on screening at check points using the screening tool.

The Certificates will be issued only for those drivers and crew members that test negative for COVID-19. Those that test positive will be expected to follow existing national protocols to access care and other services.

Uganda’s Health Ministry said a total of 1,477 samples from points of entry were tested for Coronavirus on Saturday while 358 were from the community and alerts.

A total of 1835 samples were tested for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Currently, Uganda has a total of 413 COVID-19 confirmed cases, 72 recoveries and no fatalities.

President Museveni will on Monday, June 1, address the nation about measures being taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.