Government gives details of the new COVID-19 cases

HEALTH   VIRUS

KAMPALA  - Government has given details of the 11 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) cases that were announced yesterday. The details are in a press statement issued by the Ministry of health's office of the director-general public relations unit.

According to the statement, the ministry confirms that the 11 cases were all under institutional quarantine at the time of testing. The statement highlighted that all the cases presented with signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

The cases included a 29 years old Ugandan female, resident of Kyanja, Nakawa who was a contact to one of the previously confirmed cases, 27-year-old Ugandan male, resident of Mpererwe, Wakiso who arrived from the United Kingdom and then nine years old Uganda female, resident of Suubi Watoto village who arrived from the United Kingdom.

Others include seven-year-old Ugandan female, resident of Suubi Watoto village, who arrived from the United Kingdom, 30-year-old Ugandan male, resident Kisaasi, Kampala who arrived from the United Kingdom and then 10-year-old Uganda female, resident of Suubi Watoto village who arrived from the United Kingdom.

Also 10-year-old Ugandan female, resident of Suubi Watoto village who is a contact to one of the previously confirmed case and nine-year-old Uganda male, resident of Biira village, Wakiso district arrived from the United Kingdom.

Others are eight-year-old Ugandan male, resident of Suubi Watoto village arrived from the United Kingdom, 27-year-old Ugandan female, resident of Kavule, Makerere arrived from the United Kingdom and the 26-year-old Ugandan male, resident of Katabi, Wakiso district.

The 11 cases brought the total number of COVID-19 in Uganda to 44. To date, 1015 are under follow up and institutional quarantine. And a total of 660contacts to the confirmed cases are under follow up.

Dr Henry G Mwebesa, the director-general of health, appealed to the population to remain calm but vigilant and continue to practice the preventive measures.

According to Mwebesa, people should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub at least three times a day, maintain a social distance of at least four meters and if you have flu-like symptoms, cover your nose and mouth with a mask.

Around half of the planet's population is under some form of lockdown as governments struggle to halt the spread of a disease that has now infected more than 840,000 people.

Well over 40,000 are known to have died, half of them in Italy and Spain, but the death toll continues to rise with new records being logged daily in the US.