Uganda shuts schools, churches and restricts transport as COVID infections soar

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has announced remedial measures to curb the country’s soaring coronavirus infections. According to the Daily Monitor, Museveni announced in a Sunday evening address to the nation that schools and churches would be shut for the next 42 two days. The orders begin on Monday, June 7, and another one which restricts inter-district public transport is set to commence on June 10, after learners shall have travelled home from their various schools.

“The most affected age group in this current wave are the young people aged 20-39 years with observed increasing transmission among the 10-19 years. There is an increased number of infections in schools since March. A total of 948 reported cases in 43 schools from 22 districts. Kampala, Gulu, Masaka and Oyam districts combined constitute 61 percent of reported cases education institutions. Government is committed to vaccinate all the 21.9 million Ugandans eligible for the jab,” president Museveni said in a televised address.

Before the decision, Uganda had registered 1,259 new cases and nine deaths bringing the total caseload to 52,935. With fears the second wave could be manifesting itself in the East African country, the Kampala government is determined to contain the spread of the virus and lower the positivity rate.