Coronavius: concern is spreading to Uganda, so far preserved from the epidemic

General view of Kampala, Uganda. © Thomas Trutschel / Getty Images

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2 min

Uganda only declared its first death from Covid-19 very recently, on July 23. Since then, the epidemic seems to be amplifying in the country. The latest report from the Ministry of Health has six deaths for 1,267 confirmed cases. If the figures are relatively low compared to other countries on the continent such as South Africa, the wave that arrives worries in Kampala.

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In Kampala, the Ugandan capital, the municipality has started distributing masks in neighborhoods of the city. The authorities are also increasing information campaigns to fight against the coronavirus. President Museveni announced at the end of July the partial lifting of the measures taken in the country, in particular the reopening of certain businesses, the reduction of curfew hours or the authorization to resume the activities of taxi-motorcycles.

However, the epidemic appears to be gaining ground in neighborhoods and via truck drivers. President Yoweri Museveni has issued new warning messages on Twitter. “  I always see people flouting the guidelines in place ,” he wrote. Do not be reckless  ”.

On COVID Pandemic: I welcome the positive suggestions like the idea of ​​sports without audiences that have been tried in other countries of Europe. There are also ideas of isolating the tourism areas that I saw in Cuba. However, all this must be subsidiary to life.

  Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) August 6, 2020

Political meetings and new phase

Instructions his own party does not always follow. The general elections are due to be held early next year and some candidates are already organizing major demonstrations, sometimes bringing together several hundred people.

For its part, the American Embassy alerted its nationals on Friday, August 7. She says the amount of testing available is not enough. “  We are now entering a new phase , according to her. Kampala has many more cases of Covid-19 than what is currently known  ”.

► Read also: Coronavirus: in Uganda, a music solidarity channel

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  • Uganda
  • Coronavirus
  • Yoweri Museveni

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