Uganda re-imposes lockdown amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Uganda has taken decisive action to reinstate some of its lockdown measures in an effort to contain the surging second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Yoweri Museveni, in a televised address on Sunday, highlighted the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, emphasizing the alarming rate at which cases are increasing compared to the first wave last year. Ainebyona Emmanuel, the Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health in Uganda, discussed the current state of affairs and the measures being implemented to curb the high transmission rates. The country has witnessed a significant spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the month of May, with over 8,000 new cases reported in just the past week, averaging over 1,000 cases daily. President Museveni's government has put in place a series of restrictions, including the closure of all educational institutions for 42 days, a ban on inter-district transport, and the restriction of public gatherings and places of worship. Nightclubs, cinemas, and other entertainment venues also remain closed to prevent further spread of the virus. Despite the surge in cases, Uganda's healthcare system has been somewhat prepared to handle the escalating numbers. With 3,793 hospital beds available for COVID-19 patients and additional makeshift treatment units at national and regional referral hospitals, the government has been able to manage the current influx of patients. In addition to hospital-based care, Uganda has implemented a robust home-based care system to monitor and support patients from their residences. Patients under home-based care are regularly checked on by village health teams and healthcare workers, with the provision of oxygen support if needed. The Ministry of Health in Uganda has made significant progress in its vaccination campaign, with over 748,000 people vaccinated as of June 6th. The government has received doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility and additional doses from the Indian government. However, vaccine supplies are running low, prompting the exploration of alternative sources such as the Sinovac vaccine from China, Johnson & Johnson, and the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V. The government has allocated funds to secure additional vaccine doses to meet the target of vaccinating at least 4.8 million priority individuals in the country. Despite global vaccine shortages, Uganda remains committed to achieving widespread vaccination coverage to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect its population.