frnlen

Covid-19: Uganda goes into total lockdown as infections and deaths raise

Covid-19: Uganda goes into total lockdown as infections and deaths raise

Covid-19: Uganda goes into total lockdown as infections and deaths raise

/ Santé / Sunday, 27 June 2021 10:52

source photo: Anadolu Agency

42 deaths and 1,000 new coronavirus infections were reported in Uganda last Friday .    

By Kabakura Jean Bosco Ceusi 

The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced  tighter restrictions in the country following a worrying rise in Covid-19 infections and deaths  when the country recorded 1000 new infections  and 42 Covid-related deaths bringing the total death toll in Uganda to more than 400 since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Ugandan leader vowed to “stop the joke” of people violating the public health guidelines, known as the Standard Operating Procedures [SOP] as he had  warned the population since March last year.

The new stringent measures include  the public and private transport which is at complete standstill. since Friday. Only security, emergency and other essential service providers, including the police, firefighters and the military are allowed. This provision tightens restrictions already imposed a week ago, when cross-district travel was banned, schools closed and other public gatherings restricted,  yet the number of deaths continued to rise.

The country had already been operating under a tight set of restrictions, including a curfew that started at 9pm to 5am, compulsory wearing of masks and social distance in public places. However, since people are not respecting the imposed curfew , its lenght  has been extended  throughout the country from  7pm to 5.30am.”

The Ugandan leader lampooned schools and other learning institutions which he accused of sitting on evidence of possible infections in schools. He had said the same thing last week when he ordered schools closed and to remain shut for the next 42 days.

The new restrictions  mean that Uganda, initially seen as winning the war on Covid-19 and reporting fewer cases compared to those of neighbouring Kenya, now pays the prize for  citizens who dropped their guard.

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.