Tension is high in Mbale city, eastern Uganda following the death of a 34-year-old female patient with COVID-19 like symptoms. The patient was picked up from Mabyale sub-county in Namisindwa district and admitted at Joyce Hospice health centre.
It is alleged the patient fell sick a week ago and was admitted at one of the branches of Joyce Hospice in Namisindwa district where she was working as a cleaner.
The Mbale district COVID-19 surveillance focal person, Edward Nyogensa says that the deceased was presented with COVID-19 symptoms including dry cough, high fever, chest pain, headache and difficulty in breathing. He says they have drawn samples from the deceased for testing.
"Our medical teams are now at the clinic where the deceased died from trying to take samples from the body to ascertain the truth as of now. What I can say that she presented with the signs but we can't confirm that she died of COVID-19," he said.
Nyongesa says the Mbale district surveillance team is now liaising with their counterparts in Namisindwa to locate the contacts of the deceased.
The deceased's relative only identified himself as Martin said that she called him on Tuesday complaining of chest pain. She reportedly said that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia and flu. Currently, Joyce Hospice health centre is out of bounds to the public. Even those in the facility including health workers and patients have been barred from leaving the facility.
Ministry of Health said in a tweet that samples have been withdrawn from the body and are currently being tested for COVID-19 at the Uganda Virus Research Institute and results from the tests will be communicated later. According to the ministry, the deceased is a Kenyan national married to a Ugandan.
Source
