Experts explain surge in Covid-19 cases, deaths

The Ministry of Health at the weekend reported 326 new cases of Covid-19, the highest in the country since the onset of the pandemic in March.
Experts warn that the country will continue to register high numbers and more deaths given the prevalence of the pandemic and violation of Covid-19 prevention measures.
The cumulative total number of cases stands at 4,799 and the number of deaths was at 55 by yesterday. 
Up to 92 children aged up to 12 years have tested positive for Covid-19, according to the ministry.
Dr Andrew Kambugu, the executive director of Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), attributed the rising cases to laxity in observing preventive measures. 
However, he said Uganda is no exception as other countries across the globe have experienced the same.
“We benefitted from the early lockdown in terms of interrupting transmission but if you have been walking around town recently, people are violating preventive measures. What we are seeing reflects how we are observing the measures as individuals and community,” he said yesterday.
“Different countries are in different stage of the pandemic. In South Africa there was a time they were registering very high numbers but now their cases are coming down,” Dr Kambugu said.
The IDI boss warned that the country will still experience more cases before they reduce.
“We have, however, had time to prepare. We were able to build capacity for handling the cases. We have increased the bed capacity, isolation and quarantine facilities unlike other countries when they were hit,” he said.
Dr Yonas Tegegn, the World Health Organisation country representative, said: “We need to continue practicing the necessary preventive measures until we come up with a vaccine. Health workers need to have a good strategy; find (the cases), test, isolate and care of the cases.”
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health minister, said in conference last Friday that steps have been taken by the Ministry of Health to mitigate Covid-19 infection among health workers.
Dr Aceng highlighted training on case identification at health facility level, guidance on creating holding areas in each health facility and instituting of infection prevention, and control committees to monitor safety of the health workers as some of the steps.

326 cases breakdown
Kampala had the highest number (94), followed by Buikwe (93), Kitgum (29), Gulu (17) and Moroto (19).
Other districts where the cases were registered from include Mbale, Amuru, Kapchorwa, Pader, Nwoya, Bududa, Mukono, Wakiso, Jinja, Omoro, Sironko, Zombo, Arua, Namisindwa and Tororo. According to the ministry, the country had registered 2,256 recoveries by yesterday.