Why some eased Covid-19 measures could be reversed – Museveni

The available Covid-19 vaccines can vaccinate 8,503,631 million people or cover 6.1 million due for a second dose, according to Museveni.

Oyam – January 1, 2022: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni addressed the nation on December 31, talking coronavirus (health), politics and terrorism. 

In that address, Gen. Museveni also announced the reopening of the economy in a way he termed as a “staggered manner”.

You may recall that at the beginning of last year, Uganda’s target was to vaccinate 22 million Ugandans above 18 years against Covid-19.

4.8 million most vulnerable persons were a priority: (3.3m above the age of 50 years, 550,000 teachers, 150,000 health workers, 250,000 security personnel and 500,000 below 50 years of age but with comorbidities like diabetes, blood pressure, among others.

By December 31, according to Museveni, 11,377,067 total doses were administered. “Of this, 3,756,248 million people have been vaccinated fully either with two doses of the various vaccine types or the vaccine of Johnson and Johnson.”

Of the 22 million people, 45% (9,979,206) of the target population have received at least one shot of the vaccine, and 17% have been fully vaccinated.

As of December 31, 2021, Uganda has received a total of 20,658,940 million vaccine types that need two doses to cover one person and 12,037,500 million of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson. 

Uganda has already used 21,086,318 doses. Vaccines we have now can vaccinate 8,503,631 million people or cover 6.1 million people due for a second dose.

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We are expecting another 7,319,610 million double dose vaccines, able to vaccinate 3,659,805 million people and another 3,691,200 Johnson and Johnson able to vaccinate a similar number.

To ensure safety against corona, Museveni said scientists have now recommended a booster dose for those above 50 years. These are 3.3 million. “Therefore, the 50 years old plus persons that have already received two doses come out again for the booster dose.”

On account of those factors, we now intend to fully reopen the economy as well as education and social activities in some staggered manner.

1. The transport sector fully reopened. All are to follow necessary SOPs such as wearing of the masks. Full-vaccination by both the crew and the travellers.
2. The cinema halls and sports events to be allowed to operate with SOPs.

Read more here:Updates: Curfew lifted, public transport to operate at 100%

Museveni warned that some of the measures will be reversed if Covid-19 high-dependency and intensive care units bed occupancy exceeds 50%.

Two, if the daily rate of hospitalization for severely and critically ill patients is sustained at 30 per day for five days in two or more Covid-19 treatment units.

Three, if the Intensive Care Units (ICU) beds in government hospitals are 187, and high dependency unit (HDU) beds are 457. The total number of coronavirus beds is 3,100.