By Spy Uganda
The government of the United Kingdom has declared Uganda as one of the high-risk countries for the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19), which broke out in China but has since spread to several countries around the world.
The Coronavirus is a lethal influenza-like infection that kills within few hours and broke out in Wuhan province China, in late 2019, but has since claimed thousands of people across the globe.
However, the shocking latest news is that the administration in the UK has issued a warning to all hospitals and citizens about travellers from Uganda, after designating the country among those in the country of High-Risk states.
According to a statement from the UK National Health Services to Hampshire Hospitals, apart from Uganda, the other High-Risk countries, described as Category 1 Risk countries, include the China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oman, Saudi Arabia Peninsula, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Iran, any Italian town under containment measures.
On the other hand, Category 2 countries, which are less risky than those in Category 1, include; Cambodia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Macau. Malaysia, Myanmar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vitetnam, etc.
The statement adds that “Category 1 Travellers should immediately self-isolate, even if asymptomatic and call NHS 11 to inform of recent travel.”
Also according to the statement, “Category 2 Travellers do not need to undertake any special measures but if they develop symptoms within 14 days they should self-isolate and call NHS 111.”
It should be noted that Coronavirus has already spread to Africa, with patients registered in Egypt, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa and other countries.
On Sunday a German tourist died of coronavirus in a Sinai resort in eastern Egypt, the health ministry announced.
This is the first death from the epidemic to be recorded in Africa.
“The 60-year-old German citizen showed symptoms of a fever (and) checked into Hurghada hospital on 6 March before testing positive for CoviD-19,” the ministry said in a statement.
The tourist, who arrived from Germany a week ago, died after having refused to be transferred to an isolation ward once his breathing had been affected by “acute pneumonia.”
On Saturday, the health ministry announced 45 suspected cases of Egyptians and foreigners contracting the virus aboard a Nile cruise ship.
The boat was carrying 171 people – 101 foreigners and 70 Egyptian crew – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli told reporters.
Besides the cruise ship cases, Egypt has detected three cases of the virus, the first of which was announced on February 14.
The health ministry said last week that the first patient, a Chinese national, had recovered and was released.
The other two cases, a Canadian working in an oil company and an Egyptian who returned from Serbia through France, are still undergoing treatment.
Other countries, including France, have announced that six travellers returning from Egypt had tested positive for the virus.
But it should be noted that the ministry of health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine assured the nation that Uganda has not registered any case of Coronavirus and that even Chinese nationals who were apprehended at Entebbe Airport last week and taken into isolation had tested negative.
