Summary:
- Uganda registered two community cases and two of truck drivers on Tuesday
- After deducting all foreign truck drivers from Uganda’s case count, the confirmed cases now stand at 145—MoH
Uganda’s Health Ministry on Wednesday evening confirmed ten new coronavirus cases. According to the Ministry, nine new cases are truck drivers while one case is a contact to a confirmed truck driver.
“Following a Presidential Directive of deducting all foreign truck drivers from Uganda’s case count, the confirmed COVID-19 cases now stand at 145,” Ministry’s statement shows.
Eleven foreign truck drivers were handed over to their respective countries of origin.
According to the Health Ministry, it has handed 124 total foreign truck drivers over to their country of origin since Presidential directive.
On Wednesday, 1,264 truck drivers got tested, 233 community samples tested and 1,497 total samples were tested.
Easing lockdown
Addressing then nation for the 14th and 15th times on Monday and Tuesday nights respectively, President Museveni Yoweri said public transport will resume operations after two weeks. This, he says, will only be possible after it distributes masks to all Ugandans.
Mr Museveni said government had contracted Nytil to produce masks for all Ugandans of 6 years and above, adding that distribution will be done by local council leaders [LC1s].
On Tuesday, while clarifying on his Monday directives and easing lockdown procedures, Mr Museveni said private cars, shops dealing in general mechanises may resume operations on 26 May 2020. He advises that anybody capable of having a standard mask should do so.
On Thursday 21 May 2020 at 1pm, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng will address the nation on guidelines on use of face masks and Uganda’s response to truck drivers.