Uganda is yet to register its first coronavirus case, but President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has made a proactive move to close schools, suspend religious worship gatherings, entertainment get together as well.
The move affects over 51,000 schools (Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, University, and Tertiary) that Museveni said are points of population concentration, holding up to 15 million Ugandans.
Likening the coronavirus to a fire, Museveni said that although Uganda had not reported any case of the virus yet, dispersing these centres of population concentration would deny the fire from finding a heap of dry grass ready to ignite.
A firm but jolly Museveni, said the closure of schools which is only temporary and will take one month will disperse the 15 million students to over 8 million households- an average of two people per household, thus eliminating the population concertation risk.
He also said that although Uganda is yet to register a single Corona Virus case and despite the low death rates, the fact that Uganda had significant existing cases of Hiv/Aids, Cancer, hypertension and diabetes- conditions, which increase corona mortality rates, it was important that these preventive means be taken.
“We should do this to deny coronavirus a chance. This is a smart way of avoiding this danger; by closing the concentration in education institutions. These measures take effect on Friday, March 19th at Midday,” he said.
Addressing the nation today, President Museveni said that Cabinet, sitting on Monday 16th March 2020 had in a preemptive move also decided to as well bar Ugandans from travelling to or through class 1 affected countries. Foreigners intending to travel to these countries, will not be stopped but they cannot travel back to Uganda within 32 days. Travelers from those countries are also banned from travelling to Uganda for 32 days.
He encouraged Ugandans travelling from the class 1 countries to postpone travel or “sit out the story” or else be mandatorily quarantined, at their own cost.
Irene Mwoyogwona: Beyond the Numbers – How Pride Bank's Award-Winning CFO Combines Profitability and Social ImpactThe class 1 countries affected by the Coronavirus disease are: Italy, France, South Korea, China, USA, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Norway Austria, Malaysia, Pakistan and San Marino.
Mass wedding functions were also banned and the president said those who must wed, must do so in under-10 people ceremonies.
On funerals, president Museveni guided that burials should be performed by members of the immediate family. However if the dead are suspected to have died of COVID19, the burial will be taken over by the government.
Regarding public transport, President Museveni said that Ugandans should not travel unless it is necessary and said that companies that operate public transport means should be given Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to follow. Other mass concentration areas such as factories, hotels, Taxi parks, etc. are to continue operating, but with standard operating procedures [SOPs] published by the Ministry of Health.
“The public transport can continue with precautions until we record a case,” he said.
See the full address here: https://www.yowerikmuseveni.com/address-corona-virus-covid-19-guidelines-avoiding-pandemic
