Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leaders in Gulu have translated the COVID-19 guidelines into vernacular to boost their response plan against the virus. The translation was done by an eight-member COVID-19 Gulu Task Force subcommittee on Risk, Communication and Community Engagement. The team included senior health workers and the material is …
Read More »Sunlight destroys coronavirus quickly, say US scientists
Washington, United States | AFP | The new coronavirus is quickly destroyed by sunlight, according to new research announced by a senior US official on Thursday, though the study has not yet been made public and awaits external evaluation. William Bryan, science and technology advisor to the Department of Homeland Security …
Read More »Don’t rush to restart La Liga, Bale warns
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says there should be no rush to restart La Liga during the coronavirus lockdown as the Spanish football federation plans tests and a return to training. Testing players is being discussed with a view to completing the Liga season and thereby …
Read More »In locked down Britain, the beloved pub quiz moves online
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Much of the world is in lockdown, there’s a killer virus on the loose, but right now there’s only one question that needs answering: who was Madonna’s first husband? Half the faces on the computer screen look blank, but other people start writing, and the …
Read More »Truck drivers send Uganda COVID-19 tally to 74
🔹11 new cases, all truck drivers. 🔹 6 from Tanzania 🔹 5 from Kenya ✳ 17,388 tests ✳ 74 confirmed cases ✳ 46 recoveries ✳ 29 active cases ✳ 0 deaths Malaba, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | With six Kenyan and five Tanzanian truck drivers testing positive on Friday, Ugandan …
Read More »Fifth of New Yorkers infected with coronavirus, antibody test suggests
Nueva York, United States | AFP | More than one in five New Yorkers may have already had the new coronavirus, a testing sample showed Thursday, suggesting infections are much higher than confirmed cases suggest. Widespread testing — including for antibodies — is viewed as key to American states …
Read More »Madagascar hands out ‘miracle’ virus cure as it lifts lockdown
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Unarmed Madagascar soldiers went door-to-door in the capital Antananarivo, doling out sachets of a local herbal tea touted by President Andry Rajoelina as a powerful remedy against the novel coronavirus. Baptised Covid-Organics, the tonic is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in treating …
Read More »‘Serious side effects’ from Trump-backed virus drugs: EU agency
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The European Medicines Agency on Thursday added its voice to growing concern about an anti-malarial drug widely touted as a potential cure for the COVID-19 disease, warning about fatal side effects. Beneficial effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which count US President Donald Trump as a major backer, have “not …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Truth about COVID-19 food fights
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY The truth about the COVID-19 food fights: The comedy, corruption, and politics ANALYSIS Delivering education online: Coronavirus underscores what’s missing in Africa BUSINESS Big deal: Tullow Oil to exit Ugandan market, sales its …
Read More »German-funded mobile virus testing labs land in East Africa
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Uganda and Rwanda have taken delivery of two mobile diagnostic labs to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the first in a network of German-funded units for East Africa, public investment bank KfW said Thursday. While the project to procure the labs and train staff has been underway since …
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