Uganda confirms first coronavirus case

The Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng has confirmed Uganda's first coronavirus case in a 36-year-old Ugandan male who arrived from Dubai on Saturday at 2.00 am aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

Addressing an 11 pm press conference, Aceng said the patient, a resident of Kibuli, Kakungulu Zone in Kampala travelled to Dubai 4 days ago for a business trip and all the other passengers who travelled with the patient on the same flight are under quarantine and have so far tested negative.

Aceng says the patient was identified immediately from the airport and isolated at Entebbe Grade B hospital. Key symptoms of coronavirus include dry cough, shortness of breath and fever. The virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets land in the mouths and noses of another person.

A person can also get infected with COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

 

COVID-19 typically causes flu-like symptoms including fever and cough, these symptoms can develop into pneumonia, with chest tightness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. The infection seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and after a week, it can lead to shortness of breath. 

 

President Museveni on Saturday announced the closure of the airport and all border entry points to all incoming travellers including Ugandan nationals. 

 

The public is requested to report any suspected cases on toll-free lines on 0800-203-033 and 0800-100-066. 

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