PANDEMIC
The weekly markets within the beforehand hotspot areas of Uganda that had been ordered to stay closed because of the focus of the coronavirus can now re-open, well being minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng introduced on Thursday.
In September (three months in the past), President Yoweri Museveni lifted a ban on weekly markets, save for these within the hotspot districts, which on the time registered excessive numbers of COVID-19 infections.
The districts included Kampala, Soroti, Kalungu, Kabale, Kumi, Tororo, Nwoya, Gulu and Yumbe.
In reopening numerous sectors of the economic system, President Museveni has acted on the recommendation of the scientists, as Uganda continues on the trajectory of resumption of full-throttle financial exercise.
In her handle on the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday, Aceng introduced that the stated areas “are not hotspot areas” following surveillance on vaccine uptake and established COVID-19 measures.
They will resume operations however with strict adherance to plain working procedures and the curfew tips.
‘Omicron not in Uganda’
The well being minister was talking at a time when the world is making an attempt to take care of a brand new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529), which the World Well being Group (WHO) named Omicron and labelled it a “variant of concern”.
Researchers say Omicron, first recognized by scientists in South Africa, has a number of mutations that will have an effect on the way it behaves, for instance, on how simply it spreads or the severity of sickness it causes.
Already, it has discovered its method in quite a few international locations, from southern Africa to the US and South Korea, amongst others.
For now, it has not been detected in Uganda.
“This variant has not been detected in Uganda,” stated Aceng, including: “We’re intently monitoring the evolution of the unfold of the variant in several international locations.”
For now, researchers across the globe are attempting to grasp the total impression of this new pressure of COVID-19. Some governments have banned vacationers from South Africa and close by international locations whereas others are contemplating shutting their borders – once more.
‘We’ve enough vaccines’
Additionally on Thursday, the minister urged the general public to stay calm, and embrace and take severely the continuing COVID-19 vaccination train. “This may shield you and your family members from getting contaminated with COVID-19.”
Up to now, Uganda has registered a complete of 127, 551 confirmed instances of the coronavirus, most of whom have recovered. Those that have succumbed to the virus are 3,252, and 115 instances are admitted in private and non-private amenities. Others are beneath home-care administration.
Aceng stated there’s low transmission of the coronavirus in Uganda, with the transmission charge having dropped to five% since September this 12 months.
On the brand new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, the well being minister advised reporters that they’re persevering with to ramp up surveillance at border entry factors, particularly people who have excessive exercise, together with Entebbe Worldwide Airport, and land border factors akin to Malaba, Katuna and Mutukula.
Ever because the authorities instituted obligatory testing of all incoming travellers at Entebbe Worldwide Airport, as many as 48,259 samples have been examined, with 278 discovered constructive for coronavirus.
Testing at Entebbe and land entry factors will proceed. Passengers can be allowed to proceed to their factors of vacation spot as soon as their samples have been taken.
Aceng stated that individuals who take a look at postive for COVID-19 can be tracked and put beneath home-based care or well being facilty care, relying on the severity of the an infection. Asymptomatic instances can be positioned beneath home-based administration.
“All constructive instances shall be subjected to genomic sequencing to enabale detection of the Omicron variant,” she stated, additionally urging the general public to be sincere with the data they offer well being officers in case there ever arises a necessity to succeed in (out to) them.
In the meantime, the minister underlined that there’s elevated uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination, and additional rallied all Ugandans aged 18 and above to get inoculated to cut back the circulation of COVID-19.
“We’ve enough vaccines,” she assured.
As of at this time, as many as 6,973,161 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Uganda. Of this, a complete of 5,767,857 have been acquired as a primary dose, which represents 25% of the targetted 22 million for vaccination.
It’s understood that the Ugandan authorities has to date acquired 17,131,090 doses by means of donations and direct procurement programmes.
Minister Aceng stated the federal government is anticipating one other 15,563,650 doses this month, which implies that by the top of this 12 months, Uganda can have acquired over 32 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Within the meantime, the accelerated vaccination marketing campaign is continuous throughout the nation, having began within the hotspot sub-regions of Teso, Lango, Kigezi and Acholi.
