By Reagan Wilson Mbabali
The Ministry of Health said it was capturing all cases of coronavirus in Uganda to include foreigners who were found positive while in the country.
This according to the ministry is in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR) which requires that every case that is tested and confirmed for a particular disease should be registered as the host country’s case.
Previously, cases of non-Ugandans were not captured in the country’s tally, but the ministry has since captured the new cases including a 46 year old Burundian refugee who was coming from Tanzania and a 28 year old Kenyan driver who was received at Malaba border point.
The minister further reported that the 46 year old Burundian will be treated at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, while the Kenyan driver is being treated at Entebbe Grade B Hospital.
The new development therefore brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Uganda to 58.
The Director of General Services at MOH Dr. Henry Mwebesa also reported that to date 1,446 contacts to confirmed cases have been listed, with 1,143 completing the mandatory 14 day follow up.
He also said 323 contacts to confirmed cases are under surveillance by the teams for checkup of samples.
In a related incident, 10 more patients were today discharged from Entebbe Grade B hospital where they had been receiving treatment. This brings the total of patients who have recovered from coronavirus to 38.