Two frontline workers test positive for Covid in Koboko
Health workers disinfect vehicles belonging to Koboko District staff after two workers tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. PHOTO/RASHUL ADIDI
What you need to know:
- Capt Kakooza said the taskforce has taken the decision to restrict entry for people to avoid further risks as they continue to carry out mandatory tests for the district staff.
- Koboko District first confirmed its first Covid-19 case on May 16, after two truck drivers from South Sudan tested positive.
- One of the district staff, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Monitor that they are living in fear as most of them are at risk of contracting the virus.
Panic has gripped locals in Koboko District following news of a frontline health worker and a district employee, who tested positive for coronavirus.
The development brings the confirmed cases in the district to 18.
Capt Yahaya Kakooza, the KobokoResident District Commissioner, said the infected health worker is a laboratory technician, who has been helping with sample collection at the different points while the other case is the district surveillance focal person.
“We are tracing some of the contact persons of the patients since they are believed to have mixed with different people. We are also doing disinfection of most of the offices including the machines, vehicles and motorcycles,” he said.
Capt Kakooza said the taskforce has taken the decision to restrict entry for people to avoid further risks as they continue to carry out mandatory tests for the district staff.
Koboko District first confirmed its first Covid-19 case on May 16, after two truck drivers from South Sudan tested positive.
One of the district staff, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Monitor that they are living in fear as most of them are at risk of contracting the virus.
“I am worried because the district is a small village that brings all of us together. The tracing process should be hastened before we contract the virus. The testing kits have also run out of stock and this is dangerous for us,” the source said.
Two weeks ago, the President of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, Mr Justus Cherop Kiplangat, during their West Nile region tour, said the union is concerned about the safety of the nurses and midwives working in the challenging environment.
“Our nurses and midwives are the backbone and the faces of compassionate care for every patient that comes through the doors. They should be protected. The lack of protective gear is risking the lives of health workers on the frontline in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as they are in a dangerous spot and it is unacceptable,” he said.
Uganda has confirmed 7,064 cases of Covid-19 with 70 deaths and 3,226 recoveries ever since the disease was first confirmed on March 21.
