15 more Ugandans test positive to COVID-19, confirmed cases rise to 160

COVID-19 tests

Kampala, Uganda | URN | Uganda’s confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 160 after another 15 new cases were registered on Thursday 21st. The new cases were part of 2,729 samples that were tested.

Ten of the 15 cases are Ugandan truck drivers who entered the country through Elegu point of entry with South Sudan, while five other cases were from the community.

According to Ministry of Health, all the community cases are people who have been under quarantine because they were contacts of previously confirmed positive cases, mostly truck drivers. To date, over 1,200 people are under quarantine.

The government also blocked the entry of 21 truck drivers who tested positive at different points of entry. This brings the number of drivers handed over since the week begun to 145.

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of Health says that the drivers are being handed over due to a presidential directive.

“The president made a directive that only truck drivers who test negative would enter the country. Drivers who test positive are handed over to their county of origin for treatment,” Dr. Aceng said.

Uganda revised it’s cases from 264 confirmed cases to 145 on Wednesday after dropping all foreign cases from its records. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Uganda must inform the neighbouring countries about the revised figures.

Kenya on Thursday recorded its most cases in a single day after 80 new cases were recorded on Thursday from 3,102 samples. The new cases include a 6-month-old baby. Kenya’s total confirmed cases now stand at 1,109.

Read Also: Ugandan MPs push for free water, electricity amidst COVID-19 lockdown

South Sudan’s coronavirus cases spiked by 191 to 481 on Thursday 21st. Rwanda registered 6 new cases to take the national tally to 320 confirmed cases. Cameroon recorded 555 new cases, South Africa recorded 1,134 new cases and 30 new deaths. Egypt recorded 774 new cases and 16 new deaths.

Algeria 186 new cases and 7 new deaths. Morocco recorded 78 new cases and 2 new deaths. Sudan recorded 410 new cases and 10 new deaths. In Senegal, there were 98 new cases and 2 new deaths. DR Congo had 104 new cases while Somalia recorded 21 new cases.