In less than six months running now , Uganda has lost more than 140 people to the global -novel -Covid 19 and another 92 Ugandans are fighting for their lives at Mulago and other national referral hospitals, Minister of Information and NG Ms. Judith Nabakooba and Ministry of Health PS Dr. Diana Atwine stated separately .
In her weekly media briefing , Ms. Nabakooba said that by Friday ,Uganda had registered 144 COVID-19 deaths and 15,789 infections . “ Apart from those already gone, hundreds of others continue to fight for their lives everyday in the Intensive Care Units. Our Intensive Care Units are full and the Public needs to understand that if you became critically ill today, access to the Intensive Care Unit may be difficult. Without the Intensive Care Unit, chances of survival are very few. We must therefore drop all the complacence around COVID-19,Nabakooba stated
Earlier , Dr. Atwine said that at least 92 Ugandans were fighting for their lives in intensive care units as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread across the country and takes a toll on the country’s health system . And with the rising costs for controlled burial of the Covid-19 victims , government has now allowed bereaved family members to bury their dead.
“Family members and the community can now take part in the burial of their loved ones lost to COVID-19. However, this must be conducted basing on the existing guidelines. The body of the deceased must be wrapped in a waterproof burial bag before handing it over to the relatives. The relatives are not allowed to open the body for viewing or carry out any other cultural practice.
Burial should be conducted on the same day of death and will be supervised by a trained health team available,” Nabakooba explained .
Uganda again registered a new national record of 387 new Covid-19 cases. The cumulative cases are now 15,789. Figures shared by the Ministry of Health indicate that Kampala registered the highest number of infections at 221, Wakiso (46), Luwero (22), Masaka (14), Soroti (9) and Isingiro (8).
Dr. Atwine made a passionate appeal to all Ugandans especially during this political campaign season to avoid crowds and observe the set government SOPs to stem the spread of coronavirus. The virus has claimed the lives of well over 100 Ugandans and the recent one being the woman MP for Kamuli Municipality , Hajjat Rehema Wantogola .
Watongola, 54, succumbed to the pandemic a week after she was admitted to Mulago national referral hospital.
Watongola becomes the second MP to succumb to the corona virus after Pallisa district Woman MP, Faith Alupo who passed on in September 2020.
