Let’s comply with Covid-19 guidelines
A health worker takes a sample from a truck driver undergoing a test for the coronavirus in Busia, a town bordering Uganda in western Kenya, on May 14. Defeating the pandemic requires everyone's 'individual effort'. PHOTO/FILE/AFP
What you need to know:
- The issue: Violation of Covid-19 rules
- Our view: We must all take responsibility for our health and the health of our families by adhering to set guidelines because Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate.
At the onset of the election campaigns, the Electoral Commission issued guidelines in line with measures to control the spread of Covid-19.
The guidelines banned physical rallies and restricted town hall meetings to 70 people. This number was recently revised to 200 people per meeting.
The Electoral Commission (EC) didn’t just issue these guidelines for formality. The presidential and other candidates seeking political office at various levels are expected to observe them throughout the election period with maximum compliance to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Ministry of Health.
As the presidential candidates traverse the country selling their agenda to voters, a disturbing trend has emerged where some candidates or their agents are addressing large crowds in blatant violation of set guidelines to control the spread of Covid-19.
Some of the rallies are spontaneous, with members of the public following candidates travelling across their locality. While this may not be planned by the candidate, it is irresponsible for candidates to encourage behaviour that violates guidelines aimed at protecting people from Covid-19.
It is equally disappointing that some presidential candidates and many of those who attend their rallies do not follow basic measures such as wearing facemasks as they interact with huge crowds. This puts them at risk of contracting coronavirus and ultimately worsening community spread, which is spiralling out of control.
As noted by the EC, public addresses breach the campaign guidelines, which specify that meetings are conducted only in approved venues and in accordance with standard campaign schedules. The campaign programmes show the dates, time and venues for each candidate’s meetings and it is expected that all candidates respect these schedules.
To justify the violation of the guidelines banning big rallies, some candidates point out the multitudes that crowd downtown Kampala where wearing masks and handwashing are barely followed. They argue that the rallies are attended by the same people who frequent other crowded places.
Such arguments are valid because compliance should be enforced consistently and without bias. Politicians and their supporters are as vulnerable to Covid-19 as the people who trade in crowded Owino Market and shopping arcades that are often brimming with activity.
This does not, however, justify disregard for guidelines by those addressing and attending political rallies. Two wrongs do not make a right.
As of November 14, Uganda had registered 15,789 cumulative cases of Covid-19 and 144 deaths.
We must all take responsibility for our health and the health of our families by adhering to set guidelines because Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate.
