Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Police Force has released 2.58 billion shillings for its personnel implementing the COVID-19 guidelines across the country. Although latest statistics put the force’s numbers at 41,760, the Chief of Joint Security – CJS, Major General Jack Bakasumba has released allowances for only 25,977 people. …
Read More »Gov’t targets to test 8.6M Ugandans under COVID-19 mass surveillance
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the number of COVID-19 positive cases continues to rise in Uganda, government plans to roll out a mass surveillance exercise under which over 8 million people will be tested. According to Health Ministry officials, they are targeting to test 20 percent of the …
Read More »Couple mistakenly kept in COVID-19 isolation, quarantine for five days
Kitguma, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A six-month expectant mother and her husband are expected to be discharged from an isolation unit and quarantine centre in Kitgum Municipality today, after being admitted mistakenly as COVID-19 suspects five days ago. The couple from Omiya Anyima Sub County was reportedly admitted to St …
Read More »Rocky road ahead for ‘sharing economy’ platforms amid pandemic
Washington, United States | AFP | “Sharing economy” firms like Uber and Airbnb were seeing surging growth and predictions they would reshape several economic sectors. Then the pandemic hit. These companies are now bleeding more cash than ever, shedding workers and scaling back expectations for profitability amid heightened uncertainty about consumer trends …
Read More »Coronavirus creeps along East Africa’s trucking corridors
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Every day hundreds of trucks fan out from East Africa’s main ports in Kenya and Tanzania carrying cargo to the landlocked hinterland, and fears are rising they are becoming a major vector for the coronavirus. Their drivers gather at truckstops, weighbridges and customs points, socialising …
Read More »As countries begin reopening, US virus expert warns of dangers
Washington, United States | AFP | France began reopening schools on Tuesday and Russia and India started getting back to work as the top US infectious disease expert warned that relaxing coronavirus lockdowns too quickly could have serious consequences. Government immunologist Anthony Fauci’s stark words fed concerns that even a cautious …
Read More »113-year-old Spanish woman survives coronavirus
Madrid, Spain | AFP | A 113-year-old woman, believed to be the oldest person living in Spain, has beat the coronavirus at retirement home where several other residents died from the pandemic, the residence said Tuesday. Maria Branyas, who was born in the US, was infected with the virus in April at the Santa Maria …
Read More »EAC: Truckers to get COVID-19 test before departure
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Truck drivers will be required to have tested and carry certificates before they depart to different countries in the region, East African Community heads of state have said. In a video conference summit on Tuesday morning, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, …
Read More »Pallisa district struggling to establish quarantine center
Pallisa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Pallisa district COVID-19 task force is yet to establish a quarantine centre for isolating and managing suspects. The District Health Officer Dr Geoffrey Mulekwa says that they had identified Kamuge health center III to host the quarantine centre but faced resistance from residents saying …
Read More »World leaders pledge €7.4bn to research Covid-19 vaccine
EU-hosted talks tout cooperation but is not addressed by India, Russia or US PATRICK WINTOUR | World leaders, with the notable exception of Donald Trump, stumped up nearly €7.4bn (£6.5bn) to research Covid-19 vaccines and therapies at a virtual event convened by the EU, pledging the money will also be …
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