President Yoweri Museveni has re-imposed a strict lockdown in Uganda that includes the closure of schools for 45 days and the suspension of inter-district travel to help curb the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.
In his address to the nation yesterday night, Museveni said that the move is meant to reduce the further spread of coronavirus, which will be effective from today.
“We are concerned that this will exhaust the available bed space and oxygen supply in hospitals unless we constitute urgent public health measures,” Museveni said.
According to Museveni, the assessment of the impact will help the government decide whether to ease or prolong them.
Uganda’s infections cases started to spike particularly among younger people, fuelling fears that the country could slip into an out-of-control second wave.
“In this wave the intensity of severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients and death is higher than what we experienced in the first wave of the pandemic,” he said.
By yesterday, cumulative cases in Uganda were 52,929, while the number of deaths related to the virus was 374, and recoveries were 43,487.
Communal prayers in mosques, churches, or in stadia, and other open-air venues have been suspended for 42 days.
Museveni has encouraged online prayers.
Public and cultural gatherings or conferences, except for the sitting of the Cabinet, Legislature, and the Judiciary have been suspended for 42 days.
Marriage ceremonies, parties, and all other social gatherings are only allowed with a maximum of 20 people under strict observance of the given restrictions.
Also, house parties have been strictly banned and are to be enforced without fail, and all guests have been asked to wear masks and keep their physical distance.
The maximum number of persons at the burials, vigils, and funerals has been limited to 20 people and all should wear masks and socials distance.
Museveni said that the weekly non-food markets (MibuuloMarkets) are suspended for 42 days throughout the country.
Also suspended for 42 days are the monthly cattle auction Markets ebikomera.
All the public transport (buses, taxis, bodabodas) between and across districts are suspended for 42 days effective June 10, 2021.
He also encouraged people to work from home whenever possible and revert to 30 per cent physical presence at the workplace for 42 days.
From January to April the positivity rate in tested samples was mostly below 3 per cent but the rate started climbing sharply last month, hitting 18 per cent on June 2, according to Ministry of Health data.