COVID-19 Updates

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has advised health facilities to treat all patients admitted with acute respiratory tract symptoms or illnesses such as pneumonia with high suspicion for COVID-19. The advice was given by the health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng during a national address …

Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The European Commission has signed a 63 million-euro contract with American pharmaceutical company Gilead to secure treatment doses of Veklury, the brand name for Remdesivir, for the treatment of COVID-19, it announced on Wednesday. The commission said in a statement that batches of Veklury will …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The African continent has so far conducted more than 8.3 million COVID-19 tests amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across countries in the continent, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) disclosed on Wednesday. The statement was made by …

Washington, US | XINHUA | U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed his defense of using anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19, despite medical evidence disproving its effectiveness. “It’s safe. It doesn’t cause problems. I had no problem. I had absolutely no problem,” Trump said during a press briefing at the …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday warned African countries to brace for possible “acute shortage” of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the near future. The Africa CDC made the urgent call for preparedness to avert a possible …

Rome, Italy | XINHUA | The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is threatening access to food by some of the world’s most vulnerable — children, according to a new white paper written by the heads of four United Nations agencies, including the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The white paper, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Scientists have embarked on a study that seeks to examine the uptake of prevention guidelines which will offer government clues on effective Covid-19 interventions. Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, the Director of Training Health Researchers into Vocational Excellence in East Africa (THRIVE), says that the study …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is embarking on screening all their patients for the disease before seeking care for their various cancers. The development comes as the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 is rising and some succumbing to the viral respiratory disease. Dr. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A patient admitted in the Intensive Care Unit-ICU at Rubaga hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. Dr Andrew Ssekitoleko, the executive director of Rubaga Hospital confirmed the case to Uganda Radio Network. “It is true we have someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in …

Namisindwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Security has cordoned off Bumandli A village and Buwasunguyi trading center in Namabya sub county in Namisindwa district following the death of a patient with Covid-19 like symptoms. The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Martin Muyenlitsi, a resident of Namabya sub county in …