Uganda registers highest COVID-19 deaths

Dec 09, 2020

The Ministry of Health noted in a statement released on Wednesday evening that results of COVID-19 tests done on December 8, 2020, confirmed 1,199 new cases.

HEALTH   VIRUS

KAMPALA - Uganda has registered the highest number of COVID-19 deaths after 12 people succumbed to death. Also, 1,199 new cases of COVID-19 were registered, the highest in a single day.

The Ministry of Health noted in a statement released on Wednesday evening that results of COVID-19 tests done on December 8, 2020, confirmed 1,199 new cases bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 25,059. 

"12 COVID-19 deaths registered. Of these, nine deaths occurred between December 4 and 5. However, they had to be verified before reporting. The other 3 occurred on December 9," the ministry tweeted.

The number of COVID-19 deaths has shot to 219 from 207.

The breakdown of the new cases are:

1,198 contacts and alerts: Kampala (414), Wakiso (252), Kabarole (75), Kasese (57), Masaka (49), Luwero (37), Mbarara (34), Isingiro (31), Soroti (27), Kabale (22), Kalaki (17), Tororo (17), Mayuge (13), Jinja (13), Bunyangabu (10), Kalungu (10), Mityana (9), Kamwenge (9), Apac (8), Kyotera (8), Kaberamaido (7), Kanungu (6), Katakwi (6), Iganga (5), Kakumiro (5), Mukono (6), Kalangala (5), Busia (6), Rukungiri (4), Nakaseke (4), Bushenyi (4), Kaliro (4), Mubende (4), Kibuku (3), Rubanda (2), Buyende (2), Sembabule (2), Mbale (4), Bukomansimbi (2), Kisoro (1), Mpigi (1), Kapchorwa (1), Mitooma (1), Ntoroko (1), Pader (1), Moyo (1)

One truck driver at Malaba Point of Entry also tested positive for the virus.

To date, 660,758 COVID-19 samples have been tested. A total of 9,510 people have so far recovered from the virus.

COVID-19 spikes

On Sunday, Uganda confirmed 701 new cases of COVID-19 which was the highest ever recorded before Wednesday's 1,199. Also, from Monday tests, the country registered 660 which is the now the third-highest number to ever be recorded.

Election period

There have been fears that the election period where some candidates have deliberately refused to adhere to the set guidelines by the Ministry of Health and the Electoral Commission, could lead to an increase in the number of cases.

There have also been calls by sections of Ugandans for the Electoral Commission to call off campaigns on the grounds of the increasing cases of COVID-19 infections which the Ministry of Health now says is being spread at a community level.

Health Minister Ruth Aceng last month cautioned the members of the public to follow the Standard Operating Procedures which included washing hands, keeping social distance, and wearing a mask to curb the spread of the virus.

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