(KDRTV)-Uganda has joined other East African countries in confirming first cases of the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19)
Daily Monitor reported that the country`s Health Minister Jane Aceng made the announcement on Saturday night
Uganda has confirmed her 1st case of #COVID19, today. This is a 36 year old Ugandan male who arrived on 21 March 2020 at 2:00am. During the screening process at the airport, his temperature was 38.7. This prompted health teams to isolate him at the airport for further follow up pic.twitter.com/COaMCUdQrB
— Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero (@JaneRuth_Aceng) March 21, 2020
“The confirmed case is a 36 year old Ugandan male who arrived from Dubai at 2:00am today, Saturday 21 March 2020 aboard Ethiopian airlines. He presented with symptoms of high fever and poor appetite,” the Ministry of Health said on Twitter.
“During the screening process at the airport, his temperature was 38.7. This prompted the health teams to isolate him at the airport for further follow up. Subsequent temperatures taken at intervals of 30 minutes and one hour remained the same,” the ministry added.
Reports have indicated that the patient has since been isolated at the Entebbe Grade B hotel while passengers who were aboard the same flight are also in Isolation
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The confirmation of the first positive has come hours after President Yoweri Museveni said that no plane will be allowed to enter or to leave the country.
“Only cargo planes and their crew members will be allowed in the country. Passengers will not be allowed beginning midnight on Sunday 22 March 2020. No passenger planes will be allowed to enter or leave the country,” he said.
No passenger planes will be allowed to land in Uganda or leave. Only cargo planes and their crew members will be allowed in the country. Meanwhile, those sneezing should keep away from the public. #COVID-19 #M7Address. pic.twitter.com/SaiLIDofYr
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) March 21, 2020
On Saturday morning, the Health Minister said that more than 100 samples were tested for coronavirus disease and all turned negative
“Samples are run three times to be sure they are negative. Sometimes I ask my teams repeat again just to be sure. They have tested and reaffirmed they are negative,” she said.
Worldometer website on Sartuday said that the total number of coronavirus case in the world was 304, 334 while the number of deaths was 12, 983 while those who recovered were 94, 677
