Uganda has confirmed 11 new cases of COVID-19 from the 2,290 samples that were tested on Monday. The total confirmed cases are now 657. The number of recoveries has increased to 118 after more recovered patients got discharged over the weekend.
All the new confirmed cases comprise of five truck drivers from Malaba in eastern Uganda and Elegu, in the north. The other six are contacts and alerts from Amuru and Kyotera districts. According to the ministry of Health, all samples of health workers taken on Monday tested negative for COVID-19. So far at least 22 frontline health workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation has cautioned that the COVID-19 situation is worsening globally, with a major increase in the number of cases and deaths recorded.
All the new confirmed cases comprise of five truck drivers from Malaba in eastern Uganda and Elegu, in the north. The other six are contacts and alerts from Amuru and Kyotera districts. According to the ministry of Health, all samples of health workers taken on Monday tested negative for COVID-19. So far at least 22 frontline health workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation has cautioned that the COVID-19 situation is worsening globally, with a major increase in the number of cases and deaths recorded.
Data from WHO shows that in the last nine days, 100,000 new cases were reported globally on a daily basis, bringing the COVID-19 caseload to almost seven million worldwide, with nearly 400,000 deaths.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says that yesterday over 136,000 cases were recorded, the highest to be recorded in a single day since the outbreak began.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says that yesterday over 136,000 cases were recorded, the highest to be recorded in a single day since the outbreak began.
According to WHO, while the United States and Brazil have the most confirmed cases now, the numbers in Africa and eastern Europe are increasing. Over 189,000 cases have been reported.
"Most countries in the African region are still experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, with some reporting cases in new geographic areas, although most countries in the region have less than 1,000 cases. We also see increasing numbers of cases in parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia", he said.
While encouraged by "positive signs" in some nations, Tedros warned against complacency, especially as countries begin to open up.
"The biggest threat now is complacency. Results from studies to see how much of the population has been exposed to the virus, show that most people globally are still susceptible to infection. We continue to urge active surveillance to ensure the virus does not rebound, especially as mass gatherings of all kinds are starting to resume in some countries," he adds.
Ugandan health experts are also warning of the same. Currently, the country is reporting more cases from communities than truck drivers. Last week, more than 140 reported cases were from communities and not high-risk groups.
Dr Monica Musenero, an epidemiologist and a senior presidential advisor on epidemics says that with cases in the community, Uganda is about to start experiencing the pandemic.
"Right now we are faced with a situation where cases are going to end up in villages to infect people's 80-year-old grandmothers. People have refused to stay home which increases the risks of the disease being spread," Musenero said.
"Most countries in the African region are still experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, with some reporting cases in new geographic areas, although most countries in the region have less than 1,000 cases. We also see increasing numbers of cases in parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia", he said.
While encouraged by "positive signs" in some nations, Tedros warned against complacency, especially as countries begin to open up.
"The biggest threat now is complacency. Results from studies to see how much of the population has been exposed to the virus, show that most people globally are still susceptible to infection. We continue to urge active surveillance to ensure the virus does not rebound, especially as mass gatherings of all kinds are starting to resume in some countries," he adds.
Ugandan health experts are also warning of the same. Currently, the country is reporting more cases from communities than truck drivers. Last week, more than 140 reported cases were from communities and not high-risk groups.
Dr Monica Musenero, an epidemiologist and a senior presidential advisor on epidemics says that with cases in the community, Uganda is about to start experiencing the pandemic.
"Right now we are faced with a situation where cases are going to end up in villages to infect people's 80-year-old grandmothers. People have refused to stay home which increases the risks of the disease being spread," Musenero said.
Source
