Mulago National Referral Hospital has been closed as a COVID-19 sample collection site for all individuals, the Ministry of Health has announced.
According to the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Lower Mulago has ceased to be a collection center for samples but has been reserved for isolation and treatment of coronavirus patients.
Covid-19 sample collection services according to the MOH have been decentralized to other health centers in 5 Divisions of Kampala including Kiswa Health Center in Bugolobi.
However, the facility at Upper Mulago remains open in terms of health services and treatment according to the ministry.
The MOH advised the public with symptoms and signs consistent to covid-19 to visit other health centers across Kampala for sample testing instead of flocking Mulago Hospital.
Uganda has experienced a surge in coronavirus infections with infections rising to 2426 confirmed covid-19 cases and 25 deaths, with majority of cases registered in the last few weeks.
The move to decentralize sample collection services in Kampala follows the MOH’s deceleration of Kampala as the hot-spot for COVID-19 infections in Uganda.
Authorities have attributed the surge in coronavirus infections to non-compliance of the population to guidelines set in prevention of coronavirus spread.