Indeed, only a few days earlier after facing backlash on social media for herding travellers in Central Inn hotel in Entebbe and charging them $100 (minus food) per day and risking them to infection, the minister said Uganda had advanced to mandatory quarantine because people were abusing the self-quarantine measure imposed earlier by the government.Â
Aceng said anybody who comes into the country henceforth, was to be subjected to mandatory quarantine else they fly back to wherever they came from as the country attempts to mitigate the spread of the pandemic that has infected more than 1,187 in Africa and 324,064 worldwide causing more than 13,782 deaths.
The health minister said countries that had failed to enforce decisive and precise measures earlier on were grappling with costly consequences of high numbers of infections and deaths. Italy and Spain are recording as high as 700 coronavirus deaths in a single day.Â
But amazingly and shockingly, at yet another coronavirus press conference at State House Nakasero, Aceng urged the 84 passengers who were on the same flight with the first victim to “come forward when called upon for follow up.”
Ugandans were shocked to learn that the 84 passengers who flew into the country on Saturday at 2 am and exposed to the coronavirus patient, were allowed to mix freely with the rest of the population.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary Diana Atwine said the 84 exposed passengers were not quarantined because, as per current standard operating procedure, they don’t want to keep as many people at the airport for a long time due to risk of exposure of infection.
She further said majority of passengers were not from high-risk categories that are subjected under mandatory quarantine. It was a shocking revelation from the two ministry of Health figureheads who have received much praise thus far on how they have handled the coronavirus situation.
STAY HOME
Meanwhile, Museveni at the same press conference urged Ugandans without private vehicles to stay home and only use public means if they must. Museveni said he doesn’t know how to handle the issue of public transport after banning mass gatherings, closing bars and churches as well as shutting down the airport.Â
The president said managers of public transport must ensure that they have hand washing facilities, temperature monitors and that no passenger who has cough or flu is allowed to board the bus or taxi. Museveni said he’s not closing workplaces yet because they know well their workers and can easily send whoever is sick home and can provide and ensure sanitisation and handwashing. Â
Museveni said anyone with flu and cough symptoms should keep home until when they recover. He said coronavirus is very easy to manage if people are not careless. He said since the virus is only spread when one touches a contaminated surface and then touches their face, periodic cleaning of between two and 4 hours of especially plastic surfaces that can be contaminated to up to nine days should be ensured. He also said regular handwashing with soap is enough to protect the people.Â
Museveni further praised the health officials at Entebbe airport for detecting the country’s first coronavirus case by just monitoring the patient’s temperature after he exhibited no signs and symptoms of cough and flu that are usually associated with COVID-19.
Museveni said he was told that the infected passenger had a temperature of 38.7 degrees and was isolated from the rest of the other passengers.
After 30 minutes, his temperature was still high and he was complaining of fever and that is when he was taken to Entebbe Grade B hospital. Museveni said the patient’s family members have been traced after it was suspected that he may have had the virus before he travelled to Dubai on March 17 but results had all turned out negative.  Â
Numbers to call in case you get coronavirus symptoms of dry cough, fever and shortness in breathing.Â
Dr Allan Mauruta +256 772460297
Dr Kagirita Atek +256 782909153
Government Line1 +256 800203033
Government Line2 +256 800100066