The declaration came just moments after President Yoweri Museveni announced that Entebbe International Airport, and all borders, will be closed from midnight tommorrow to stop passengers coming into Uganda from any part of the world.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of Coronavirus Disease -Covid-19 in Uganda.
The case is a 36-year-old Ugandan, a resident of Kakungulu Zone, kibuli, who returned home this morning aboard Ethiopian Airlines from Dubai. He travelled out of Ugandan on March 17 for business.
On his return, he presented with symptoms of high fever and poor appetite. His temperature was at 38 degrees centigrade, prompting the authorities to isolate him for further tests, which later proved positive, according to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng.
He is now isolated at Entebbe Grade B Hospital.
The declaration came just moments after President Yoweri Museveni announced that Entebbe International Airpirt and all Ugandan Borders will be closed from midnight tomorrow to stop passengers coming into Uganda from any part of the world.
“Humans crossing into Uganda from the different border points are also prohibited going forward”, the president said, as part of the additional measure to contain the virus, which has paralyzed the globe.
Todate, there are 1827 travelers under both self and institutional quarantine in Uganda. A number of these are Ugandan nationals.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organisation-WHO, people infected with the COVID-19 virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. The public has been urged to protect themselves from infection by washing hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently as the best way to prevent and slow down transmission.
Sylvia Nankya
