By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor has called upon lecturers to engage students in online lectures following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the university.
In a statement released on Wednesday 26, the Vice-Chancellor said that at least eight students and staff of Kyambogo tested positive for COVID-19 and there is a need to tighten observance to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reverse the trend.
“We have received information from the Director of Medical Services at our medical center that there are increasing cases of COVID-19 infections in the University. So far six (6) students and two (2) administrative staff have tested positive,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“I, therefore want to urge all deans and heads of departments to engage students through ODeL as planned and shown in the school’s schedule released by the academic register.”
The Vice-Chancellor also urged all students and staff who present symptoms of COVID-19 to stay at home until they fully recover.
“I want to inform you that the country is facing a surge of Covid-19 and Kyambogo University might not be spared.”
The situation at Kyambogo comes at a time when the Ministry of Health has already announced a spike in cases country-wide.
Earlier today Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwin warned that the government is highly considering the initiation of another lockdown if the covid-19 second wave is to be contained.
“It cannot be ruled out because for us life comes first, if the public has refused to take the measures in place, I think a lockdown is a way to go, some areas must be locked down unless people really get to observing SOPs otherwise we shall get overwhelmed,” Dr Atwine said.
Dr Atwine said the ministry is soon going to engage with the president after thorough consultations with the experts for guidance.
According to her, the second wave is worsening and that the Intensive Care Units are already full with public hospitals soon running out of space to accommodate patients.
“We are going to get to a level where hospitals must be left to critical patients, right now Entebbe is full, Mulago by yesterday we had 84 and by last evening the number should have increased to 100,” she added.
Atwine says the situation is worrying since the majority of the new infection are from young people.
“Two days ago, we got 187 cases in one day so I can authoritatively tell you that the second wave of COVID-19 is here. Our ICUs and HDUs are full, we lost six young people in one week so be alert,” she noted.
