Africa

COVID 19: Uganda parliament shut for disinfection

Chris Obore, parliament’s director of communications and public affairs, said the decision was taken to prevent the facility from becoming a hotspot

Uganda’s parliament will be temporarily closed for two weeks as the country continues to battle a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, officials said more than 100 people in parliament had tested positive for the disease. A statement said the closure will take effect from 28 June to 11 July to allow for disinfection of the parliamentary buildings.

Chris Obore, parliament’s director of communications and public affairs, said the decision was taken to prevent the facility from becoming a hotspot.

The institution has had four major public events since May among them the budget reading, election of the speaker, and the state of the nation address.

Uganda is facing a second coronavirus wave, prompting President Yoweri Museveni to re-impose a lockdown earlier this month. There has been a surge in infections in other parts of East Africa.

In Kenya’s western city of Kisumu, 23% of those tested last week were positive.

Uganda closes schools as COVID cases rise

Meanwhile Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has shut down schools and suspended public gatherings as the country faces a surge of infections in a second COVID-19 wave.

Public transport between districts will be banned starting Thursday to allow students who are in schools to return home.

Bars, cinemas and theatres have also been closed. The suspension of schools and gatherings takes effect from Monday and will be in place for 42 days.

Dozens of schools had reported virus cases among staff and students prompting the closure. The announcement came hours after the health ministry announced 1,259 new coronavirus cases – the highest number of infections recorded in a single day – and nine deaths on Sunday.

A rise in coronavirus cases was reported two weeks ago and officials mulled over a lockdown to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed.

The national referral hospital Mulago reported a spike in COVID-19 patients last week, saying it needed to increase bed capacity. Uganda has 52,929 cases of coronavirus and 374 deaths so far.

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Source
BBC
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