About a week ago, the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, addressed the nation and introduced a 42 day partial lock down across the country. Just as people were getting to terms with the new lock down, he then addressed the nation again on Friday 18 June and extended the lock down by another 42 days. That brings both lock downs to 84 days plus new adjustments that take immediate effect. In his address, the President said Covid-19 has grown by 17% or an equivalent of 17 times of daily infections. “In the past, it would take 68 days from 10 infections to rise to 20. Now it takes 31-32 days,” he asserted.
All age categories are affected, hospitals are full, the whole country is affected. 108 districts have Covid-19. Kampala and Wakiso are the highest. In the last 21 days among the top 20 districts that are struck, Kampala registered the highest numbers. 15,000 people were identified in 20 days, Wakiso followed with 2014 people, others include Gulu, Tororo with 352, Busia, Jinja Mbale, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Kyotera and Masaka.
The President added that the positivity rate in 100 people in the month of May was 10% but in June it was 16%. He added that in the month of May people with severe symptoms were 49% but they are now 57%. “It is no longer sick or mild but severe and critical conditions. It is shorter for the numbers to double. The rapid surge is unprecedented but manageable if measures are followed,” President Museveni commented.
To date, the country has registered 68,000 cases, that is those who went for testing. 93 patients were severe while 79 were critical. 42 people died on Friday, the day the President spoke. Overall deaths are 542, that is the numbers confirmed by PCR testing. The President added that the numbers could even be higher than what is mentioned.
“Scientists have indicated that some tests could be falsely negative whereby the virus is not in the nose or lungs but in other body parts. Since my address three weeks ago Covid-19 patients have strained hospitals with more oxygen needed. Standard beds in the country are 3,001 ICU beds are 218 but I told people to prepare 42,000 beds because I saw what was happening in Italy. That was the worst case scenario to compare with,” he noted.
He added that the infected people should not be more than the available beds. He ordered that an increase in the supply of oxygen should be made in the next 42 days. “The majority of the people have heeded to my appeal. Some have taken sanitizers at home. More people are staying at home in Kampala but we need to do more to preserve our lives. Let’s also protect the health workers,” he explained.
New measures
“Starting 10.00 o’clock today, public and private transport, boda bodas, taxis, should drop people at district boundaries. The movement of individuals fuels infections, this needs to be stopped. The virus does not transport itself but we transport it. This is not like AIDS that is not curable, it is preventable but our society does not care.”
“My directives are as follows. All inter district movement by public transport cars, boda bodas are suspended for 42 days from today. All cargo trucks and pick-ups are allowed to move with two people. Bodas or cars can move with patients only but with permission from authorities such as LC3s or medical personnel, “the President said.
He added that the boda bodas are not allowed to carry people but can carry merchandise. “The virus cannot move more than two metres, it is us spreading it. The virus is innocent. Emergency vehicles, police and army vehicles can move including essential workers. The curfew has been pulled back from 9.00 pm to 7.00pm till 5.30 am. All schools remain closed for 42 days because they were hiding cases,” the President explained.
He ordered that the ministry of finance should support the task force and that Entebbe international airport should remain open. “Cargo drivers will be tested and allowed to move but they should not park everywhere but only in designated places. The returnees and tourists can move but not local passengers. Food market vendors can camp in the markets but should be given bed nets freely. But they should not share beds. Kikuubo and other business areas should be closed,” he asserted.
Burials are restricted to core families. He explained that his uncle died but he did not go to bury. “My cousin died but I sent some people to bury. Other people died but I sent support, I did not send representatives. Burials are being mishandled but 10 people are enough. Bars, discos, sports betting should be closed. KCCA should cancel their licenses forever or issue big fines if they do not comply.
Factories should remain open for 42 days. Places of worship and sports events remain suspended for 42 days. All these measures take immediate effect for 42 days till the next speech,” the President said. He added that retail shops should remain open because there is no crowding. “We shall suffer but survive. To date we have vaccinated over 90 people of the doses we received. We are expecting 600,000 doses of Astrazeneca soon. We shall get more vaccines either Sputnik from Russia, Johnson and Johnson or from China. These are urgent but we need to put measures to protect our economy and health,” the President concluded his address.
So, with the new measures Ugandans are in for tough times with many people rendered jobless for more than 80 days.
