Health experts warn of looming COVID-19 disaster

With many candidates holding mass rallies across the country during campaigns, health experts are warning of a looming surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Speaking to New Vision, experts said if politicians continue ignoring the COVID-19 preventive measures, such as keeping a social distance and wearing face masks, the country is likely to experience an increase in the number of cases, after the elections.

So far, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of two Ugandan politicians during this campaign period.

The first was Faith Alupo, the Pallisa district Woman Member of Parliament, who died immediately after the National Resistance Movement primaries and, last week, it claimed the life of Rehema Watongola, the Kamuli Municipality legislator. Lt. Col.

Dr. Henry Kyobe, the COVID-19 incident commander, said if the situation continues as it is, where standard operating procedures (SOPS) are not being followed, the country is likely to see a COVID-19 surge after elections.

"We anticipate that (surge) but we have not projected how high it will go. But, if the masses do not obey the SOPs, the likelihood of having a surge is high," he said.

He urged campaigners to adhere to the SOPs and preventive measures at campaign venues, to ensure that the masses do not get infected.

Dr William Worodria, a member of the case management committee and a senior consultant physician at Mulago Hospital, noted that the mass rallies are providing a ripe ground for a fast spread of COVID-19.

"We will see an increase in the number of cases, given the mode of spread and the environment — mass gathering," Worodria said.

While addressing the media, Judith Nabakooba, the information and national guidance minister, said most hospitals across the country are full and cannot admit more patients.

"We are overwhelmed by the big number of positive cases. In most hospitals, intensive care units are full. So, we shall be handling most of these cases from their homes," she said.

The decision to introduce home-care in COVID-19 management was passed last month by the health ministry, after realising that treatment centres can no longer take in more patients.

The decision was made to save treatment centres for only severe and critical cases. "We need to realise that COVID-19 is around, has claimed lives and is claiming more. The hospitals cannot handle any more cases and it is becoming more expensive. The best solution is to take care of ourselves and stay safe," Nabakooba said.

She urged politicians to desist from endangering the lives of masses through rallies.

"We need life and the people who are going to vote for us must be alive. We must be humane and considerate," she said.

Medics warn that mass rallies are likely to put the country into a situation like in the United States.

A day after the elections, the country recorded over 100,000 cases and the numbers keep soaring since then.

A COVID-19 tracker, Worldometers, which keeps daily tallies of the infection across the world, shows that USA so far has over 11.2 million cases and 251,256 deaths.

Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, the director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), said crowds and the failure to keep a social distance during the campaigns will counter the country's COVID-19 response efforts and lead to a surge in numbers, as seen in other countries, such as Kenya.

"Mass gatherings put people at risk and it is a cause for worry. Ugandans need to stick to the guidelines because we may relax, thinking there is no COVID-19, and end up with huge numbers," he said.

He noted that at a time when some countries in the west are experiencing the second wave of infections and going into lockdown, Ugandans need to be careful and observe the guidelines.

Kenya is currently experiencing a spike in cases. A week following the lifting of the lockdown, the country has been forced to re-impose the preventive measures. On Saturday November, the country lost four medics to COVID-19. The country's case cumulative tally is 69,273 cases and 1,228 deaths. Uganda's COVID-19 case tally is 15,789.

Out of this, 144 have died and 8,038 persons have recovered. Out of the 144 deaths recorded, nine are medical workers.