Last week, President Museveni ordered a 14 day lockdown of the country with the intention of curbing the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). This meant that unnecessary movement of people from one region to another was suspended, shops closed, among jobs left among others.
This morning, the Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has explained, in an address to the country that the lockdown was absolutely necessary in the fight against the spreading of Coronavirus, as it has been done in other countries like China where the disease originated and it has duly worked.
“Suppression which is basically a lockdown is necessary to curb the spread. Though extremely painful, lockdowns are proven to be the most effective as we have seen with Wuhan in China, otherwise the pandemic may go out of hand if extreme social distancing is not practiced,” Aceng said.
It is during this address that the busy Minister has also revealed what government is doing during these 14 days of the lockdown.
The government has set up a communication campaign dubbed ‘Tonsemberera’ meaning ‘Don’t come close to me,’ to help the public to practice social distancing. In addition to that, emergency call centres have been increased from 20 to 345 and will be working all through in three shifts.
The public is encouraged to call the Health Ministry in case of any Coronavirus emergency on toll free lines 0800100066 or 0800203033, 0800303033 or send a WhatsApp message to 0770818139 to access help.
In the 14 days of lockdown, the Ministry will find and test rapidly all suspected cases. All travellers who returned to Uganda between March 7 and 22, 2020 when the airport was closed will be tested. All their contacts will be traced, tested and treated if found positive, and the same applies to the 660 contacts to the 33 confirmed cases who were identified and are being followed up.
“Asymptomatic persons who test negative will still be quarantined. Anyone who has completed 14 days of quarantine will be tested on the 15th day and get into self-isolation for another 14 days to be doubly sure that the person is not shedding the virus,” Dr Aceng added.
During this period, government has strengthened the health teams with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) doctors and specialists. The Ministry is also conducting interviews of 220 health workers to be recruited.
Dr Aceng also said that a total of 310 ambulances have been deployed around the country to evacuate cases. Positive cases will be managed within the district or referred depending on if they are mild or severe.
By press time, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country still stands at 44, but the Ministry of Health still urges the general public to stay calm, vigilant, and practice preventive measures like social distancing, washing hands with sop regularly and avoid gatherings of more than five people.