Twelve new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in the country, bringing the number of confirmed cases of nationals to 329.
The 12 new cases were from 1,928 samples that were tested from different points of entry and two laboratories-Uganda Virus Research Institute and the Central Public Health Laboratory. 1,492 samples were from truck drivers while 436 were from.community alerts.
Of the 12 new cases, five are of truck drivers who entered the country through the Elegu point of entry, while seven are contacts of previously confirmed cases. Another 25 foreign truck drivers were handed over to their countries after testing positive. As of now the number of truck drivers handed over stands at over 350.
According to the health ministry, all the contacts who tested positive were under quarantine at the time of testing. However the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health,Dr Diana Atwine has expressed worry that the community contacts of the truck drivers might be spreading the disease because some of them are yet to be traced.
If Dr Atwine’s fears are valid, the spread of the disease among communities during such a time when government is starting to lift the lockdown could cause a spike in the number of cases confirmed. It estimated that one asymptomatic COVID-19 patient can spread the disease to as many as 80 people or even more.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
