Uganda has entered yet another partial lockdown, as the government grapples to contain the surging numbers of COVID-19.
Currently, the capital Kampala is recording a daily average of 500 coronavirus cases.
In his address to the nation Sunday evening, President Yoweri Museveni outlined a raft of measures, which he hopes will slow down infections.
Museveni announced the closure of schools and institutions of higher learning. He said there was an increased number of clusters of infections in schools since March 2021.
“All schools and institutions of higher learning to close for 42 days effective June 7, 2021, at 8 am. All teachers to fully get vaccinated before they are accepted in schools,” read part of his speech.
In the revised measures, the government has banned all gatherings for the next 42 days.
The ban on physical gatherings includes suspension of communal prayers in places of worship, public and cultural gatherings or Conferences, except for the sitting of the Cabinet, Legislature and Judiciary.
Uganda’s Head of State has also directed all businesses to be closed by 7 pm except pharmacies. With the curfew hours remaining from 9:00 pm to 5:30 am except for cargo trucks, lorries, trains and aircraft.
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“All public transport (Buses, Taxis, Boda Bodas) between and across districts are suspended for 42 days effective 10th June 2021. This is to allow our children to go home,” he said.
In Museveni’s address, he noted that last month cases started to spike particularly among young people, fuelling fears of a second wave.
On June 4, 2021, the country registered the highest number of cases in a single day; 1,259 cases out of 7,424 tests done. This is a 17% Positivity Rate,” Museveni said.
“There has been an upsurge in case patients since end March 2021 following a 3-month period (January, February, March 2021) of controlling the epidemic,” Museveni said.
As of June 6, Uganda had reported 52,929 cumulative cases, 43,487 recoveries and 374 fatalities.
Uganda has so far vaccinated at least 748,676 people.
Out of these, 712,681 people have received the first dose and 35,995 have been fully inoculated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The East African country received 964,000 doses and is expecting additional 175,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX Facility this week.
In addition, President Museveni said, the government will secure 300,000 more doses of the Sinovac vaccine from china, following the World Health Organization’s emergency use approval.
