Epidemics Tracker

Beijing, China | AFP | The Chinese virology institute at the centre of US allegations it may have been the source of the COVID-19 pandemic has three live strains of bat coronavirus on-site, but none match the new global contagion, its director has said. Scientists think COVID-19 — which first emerged …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Scientists have advised that it is too early to rule out community transmission of coronavirus disease in Uganda. According to the World Health Organisation, community transmissions are cases of a disease that crop up within a community without a clear source or origin of an …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A sobering analysis of Uganda’s businesses during coronavirus crisis shows that at least 100,000 formal jobs have been cut revealing the scale of the carnage the virus has had on employment. Also, at least 4.4 million workers in the informal sector will either see their …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health says it has had good results using hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in managing COVID-19 patients despite findings that the drugs have no effect on treating the disease. Uganda has used the two drugs in combination with azithromycin to manage its COVID-19 patients …

  COMMENT | John Okiira | Green Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are those enterprises that either adopt practices that reduce the amount of waste generated or produce a good or service that helps user firms reduce amount of waste generated and as well conserve the environment. MSMEs play …

  How the East African Community may not survive the current pandemic and why this may be a good thing THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The coronavirus disease has exposed the deep holes in the dream and delusions of the East African Community (EAC). It has not …

To date, the WHO only recommends use of face masks for COVID-19 protection amongst healthy people only if they are caring for someone with a COVID-19 diagnosis or if they are coughing or sneezing themselves. COMMENT | Dr Bruce Tumwine Rwabasonga | President Museveni on May 19th, extended the national lockdown …

Pandemic gives Dubai chance to put tech to the test Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | From smart police helmets to research labs, the novel coronavirus has given Dubai an opportunity to test its technological and scientific clout as it shapes its approach to the pandemic. A key part …

Gulu, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The Gulu District COVID-19 taskforce has disregarded suggestions by area MPs’ on the utilization of the 20 million Shillings from Parliament. The money was given to each legislator to facilitate their activities on the management and control of coronavirus disease.   But amidst controversy on the …

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  More than 7,000 high risk travellers that are believed to have entered the country between March 7 and March 20, 2020, were never tested for COVID-19.  The call to test the travellers came at a time when all the country’s confirmed COVID-19 cases were from …