The Ministry of Health has confirmed 591 new cases of COVID-19 in Uganda along with eight deaths from the killer virus.

This now brings the total number of coronavirus cases registered in the country since March 2020 to 156,637.

The ministry said on Thursday that the tests it ran on January 11 confirmed these new cases out of the 7,278 samples collected that day.

While breaking down the new cases, the ministry said Kampala has 318 cases, up from 308 on Wednesday, Wakiso 83, Mbarara 39, Kiruhura 37, Wakiso, while Kabale and Kyotera have 17 each.

Soroti has 11, Arua and Amuru 8 each, Adjumani 7, Mbale 6, Luweero 5, while Moroto and Jinja have 4 each.

The districts of Bulambuli, Gulu, Hoima, Kikuube and Busia have 3 each, while Kalungu, Kiryandongo and Kapchorwa have 2 each.

Mukono, Bugiri and Kabarole have one new case each.

The ministry said three truck drivers from Kisoro, Tororo and Amuru also tested positive for COVID-19.

It also reported eight more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 3,378.

Cumulative recoveries are 98,839 and active cases admitted to various health facilities are 178.

A total of 12,220,106 coronavirus doses have so far been administered in the country.

The ministry that is led by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the COVID-19 positivity rate in the country now stands at 8.2% and urged Ugandans to get vaccinated.

Third wave

Aceng announced on January 7, 2022, that Uganda had already entered the third wave of coronavirus.

She appealed to Ugandans to be committed to adherence to the standard operating procedures to prevent the situation from worsening.

The minister said then that a total of 4,006,000 Ugandans had been fully vaccinated which represented 18.2% of the targeted population of 22 million Ugandans who are 18 years and above.