KAMPALA — The Ministry of Health has confirmed two new coronavirus cases, bringing Uganda’s total to 58.
The two are a Burundian refugee who came into the country from Tanzania a week ago and a Kenyan truck driver who entered through Malaba.
“One case from 929 samples tested from truck driver at border points of entry and one case from 248 samples taken from community and quarantine centres,’ Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General Services in the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
He added that a total of 1177 samples were tested at Uganda Virus Institute and the total number of confirmed cases is now 58, this includes the two truck drivers who were currently being treated in Uganda.
This is so because: The International Health Regulations (IHR) requires that every case that is tested and confirmed for a particular disease should be registered as the host country’s case.
“Therefore, Uganda will capture all COVID-19 foreigners including truck drivers as her confirmed cases,” the Ministry said on Tuesday afternoon.
To date, five truck drivers (one Ugandan, one Tanzanian and three Kenyans have tested positive for CIVID-19 in Uganda.
Out of these, 2 truck drivers (one Tanzanian and one Kenyan) had already been repatriated for their respective countries for treatment, the Ministry said.
The 46-year-old Burundian refugee who arrived from neighboring Tanzania has been evacuated to Masaka Referral Hospital while the 28 year old Kenyan truck driver who arrived at Malaba border post from Kenya has been evacuated to Entebbe Grade B.
Furthermore, Dr. Mwebesa said the Kenyan driver who tested positive for coronavirus on 19 April was also evacuated to Entebbe Grade and is currently undergoing treatment.