Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The head of the European health advisory body warned on Wednesday that constant surges and decreases of COVID-19 cases will continue until a vaccine is available. Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said that the increase in cases in …
Read More »UVRI accredited among COVID-19 reference laboratories in Africa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has been accredited by the World Health Organization-WHO as one of the COVID-19 reference laboratories in Africa. The laboratory which is spearheading COVID-19 testing in the country is one of eight laboratories that were accredited as reference laboratories …
Read More »MP Luttamaguzi Semakula, 22 others granted bail
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nakaseke South Member of Parliament Luttamaguzi Ssemakula and 22 other suspects who are accused of disregarding COVID-19 guidelines have been granted bail. Luttamaguzi, Violet Nakalema, an aspirant for the Nakaseke Woman Parliamentary Seat and 21 others were remanded to Kitalya and Kasangati prisons by …
Read More »Ten COVID patients left in communities as Arua hospital runs out of space
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is anxiety among health and local officials in Arua district, following reports that the COVID-19 treatment facility has run out of space. Newly tested positive cases have now been left in their communities, and not yet linked to care. This is according to a …
Read More »Steroid hydrocortisone increases recovery rates in severe COVID-19 patients
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Patients with severe forms of COVID-19 have higher chances of surviving if given fixed doses of hydrocortisone. This is according to findings of a new study carried out by the Imperial College of London. The findings which were released today and published in the journal …
Read More »Africa launches 14 mln USD program to shore up coffee sector amid COVID-19
Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) said on Wednesday it has jointly launched a 14.3 million U.S. dollar intervention program to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the continent’s coffee sector. IACO said it has teamed up with the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the Center …
Read More »Stronger China-EU ties needed to uphold multilateralism in post-coronavirus world
Belgrade, Serbia | XINHUA | The just-concluded European tour of China’s top diplomat further demonstrated a need for stronger ties between the two sides to uphold multilateralism, stick to openness and scale up cooperation in the post-coronavirus world. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Italy, the …
Read More »Manufacturers yet to decide fate of 2020 international trade fair
Kampala, Uganda | Julius Businge | Top executives at Uganda Manufacturers Association are yet to decide on the fate of this year’s Uganda International Trade Fair as the government of Uganda continues to discourage social gatherings that might fuel the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. In a telephone interview with The Independent …
Read More »Ministry reviews teacher education curricula to address pedagogy gaps
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Education and Sports is reviewing the teacher education curricula to address gaps in methods, techniques, and approaches of teaching which were exposed by the COVID-19 unprecedented lockdown. The review comes amidst the continued closure of schools that has left more than …
Read More »COVID-19 test fees inhumane – truck drivers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The decision by Ministry of Health to start charging for COVID-19 tests will hit truck drivers hard, their leaders has said. The leadership of the Regional Lorry Drivers and Transporters Association-RLDTA has called the decision ‘inhumane’, and said it is likely to cause more harm than …
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