Uganda records 318 new Covid-19 cases; highest in a single day

The Ministry of Health has announced 318 new cases of COVID-19, making it the country's highest number of positive cases to be confirmed in a single day.

While announcing the cases at the Ministry of Health offices, health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said that the country also confirmed one more Covid-19 related death bringing the tally of total Covid-19 deaths in the country to 20.

"We also recorded one Covid-19 death, a 49 year old male from Mbale District," Dr Aceng said.

To break down the cases, Dr Aceng said that 154 were from Amuru prisons, 136 were contacts and alerts, 20 health workers a d 8 truck drivers.

Among the contacts and alerts, 65 were from Kampala, 14 from Kiryandogo, 9 from Gulu, 9 from Mbarara, 8 from Kitgum, 8 from Arua, 7 from Wakiso, 4 from Mbale, 4 from Buikwe, 2 from Masaka, and 1 each from Bugiri, Jinja, Luweero, Manafwa, Masindi and Mityana.

The 20 health workers who tested positive for the virus were from Kitgum (9), Kampala (6), Arua (2), Adjumani (1), Kiryandogo (1), and Luweero (1).

All the new cases according to Dr. Aceng are mild cases.

The minister however noted that the Coronavirus situation is rapidly changing in the country and there is need for increased vigilance.

"The Covid-19 situation is rapidly changing in Uganda with intense transmission in Kampala where Makindye, Nakawa and Kawempe divisions are the most affected. A total of 342 Covid-19 cases have been registered in Kampala within one week," Dr. Aceng said.