By James Okello
As Uganda registered nine deaths from the Coronavirus on June 2, indicating that the second wave hitting the country currently might be very deadly, President Yoweri Museveni is set to announce tough SoPs during his address tomorrow, Sunday June 6, 2021.
On Thursday, a video captured and released by this website’s twitter handle @MediaSpaceUG showed Ambulances carrying critically-ill Covid19 patients queueing outside the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the morning hours. Uganda is facing a virulent surge in the coronavirus infections with 1,083 new cases reported from the June 1 statistics alone out of 6,283 samples tested.
But the results for the COVID-19 tests done on 2 June 2021 which confirmed 1,247 new cases out of 6,887 samples tested, revealed a scary picture with nine deaths reported in 24 hours.
Ahead of the president’s address, Mediaspace News reported on June 4, 2021 that the new SOPs might include closure of schools for 42 days, banning public transport between cities and towns, minimizing public gatherings, suspending mass gatherings at places of worship and social events such as weddings and funerals and tightening the grip on the 9pm curfew.
Following a recent meeting between the President and the National COVID-19 Taskforce, Mediaspace News now reports from informed sources that a lockdown is highly likely in most affected areas of Kampala and Wakiso Districts. Further, all schools will be closed, public transport within in the most affected areas will halted but businesses will remain open in order to keep the economy alive but as long as they follow strict SOPs. The sources add security personnel will be making impromptu visits to the ensure SoPs are being adhered to.
“If found in default, your business will be closed,” warns our knowledgeable source. Ultimately, the sources say, people will not be leaving or entering the most affected areas until the set time for lockdown is over.
The Ministry of Health reports that the country’s cumulative confirmed cases have now increased to 51,006 while the Cumulative deaths have grown to 374 with a Test positivity rate 18.1%. India which has been the worst hit country by this second wave has a test positivity rate of 15%. Although the ministry has reached a total of 706,626 vaccinated persons, active cases on admission are still considerably low at 522 patients.
Despite its initial success at fighting the pandemic, Uganda is faced with a stubborn second wave and the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is poised to address the nation this Sunday to whip up a raft of measures that might see partial lockdowns mainly in the city where the disease epicenter is said to be prevalent.
During Friday’s State of the Nation Address, President Museveni announced that the country will be on top of the situation by November this when its own home made therapeutic COVID-19 treatment will be rolled out.
Below is the breakdown of the new cases in the country’s cities and towns as at June 2, 2021:
1,247 contacts and Alerts:
Kampala (812)
Wakiso (113)
Luwero (58)
Mbarara (38)
Gulu (36)
Masaka (22)
Jinja (17)
Mbale (13)
Nebbi (11)
Buikwe (10)
Masindi (10)
Dokolo (10)
Kalungu (9)
Nabitaluk (8)
Arua (6)
Lira (6)
Yumbe (5)
Kasese (4)
Sironko (4)
Hoima (4)
Mayuge (3)
Nakaseke (3)
Bunyangabu (3)
Kayunga (3)
Bushenyi (3)
Lyantonde (3)
Moyo (3)
Butaleja (3)
Apac (3)
Buvuma (2)
Kabarole (2)
Maracha (2)
Kiboga (1)
Kiruhura (2)
Kamuli (2)
Kyegegwa (1)
Omoro (2)
Kyenjojo (1)
Kiryandongo (1)
Oyam (1)
Buliisa (1)
Nakasongola (1)
Kamwenge (1)
Kumi (1)
Kyotera (2)