Last Updated on: 18th December 2021, 12:53 pm
“There may be increased transmission in other countries,” Dr. Henery Mwebesa.
Lira – 18, December 2021: The Ministry of Health Saturday afternoon says the number of confirmed cases of Omicron variant has increased from 7 to 25.
“Number of positive cases among incoming travelers has increased from a daily average of 6 to 90 in the past 7 days,” the ministry adds, announcing that “Omicron affects both infants and adults.”
The surge, Ministry says follows the genomic sequencing of samples obtained from travelers through Entebbe International Airport between November 28th and 29th.
“The cases were imported from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as per the laboratory findings. Majority of these cases are under home isolation in Kampala and Waskiso districts.”
To date, the ministry says it has not yet confirmed any secondary cases in Uganda, or any significant shift in transmission, or changes in severity of illness amongst the confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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“However, since starting mandatory of all passengers at Entebbe International Airport on 27th October 2021, the number of positive cases among incoming travelers has increased from a daily average of 6 to 90 in the past seven days including confirmed imported cases of omicron,” Director General Health Services, Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa said in a statement released on Saturday.
He reveals that positive cases are mainly among travelers from Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. According to Mwebesa, this means there may be increased transmission in other countries.
“Further, evidence from elsewhere in the over 60 countries and territories where the Omicron variant has shown to be very highly transmissible, it appears it will replace existing SARS CoV2 viruses and variants.”
Omicron variant, he says also appears to have a shorter incubation period, and infects both infants and adults, and affects the unvaccinated more. “However, the Ministry of Health has observed that the mortality and severity of the Omicron variant appears to be lower than the delta variant.”