Minister calls for calm as Uganda's virus cases rise to 9

The minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng on Monday night urged Ugandans to stay calm and maintain hygiene after confirming eight new cases of coronavirus that has wreaked havoc across the world.

Dr. Aceng told journalists in Kampala that Uganda's confirmed cases are now nine in total.

"All the eight cases are Ugandan nationals who traveled back from Dubai, UAE; two on March 20 and six on March 22, 2020, aboard the Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines flights. This brings the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country to nine," Dr Aceng said.

All those who tested positive had a fever upon screening.

As of Monday, at least 2,661 travelers, including Ugandans had been identified as a potential risk and put either under self-quarantine or institutional quarantine, according to the minister.

"Of these, 1356 are under follow up; 774 of these are under institutional quarantine while 582 are under self-quarantine," she added.

According to her, a total of 1,305 high-risk travelers have completed their 14 days of follow up.

The first confirmed case is said to be stable at Entebbe Grade B Hospital. "We have adequate testing kits. We have all the information about the passengers who traveled to Dubai. We have the manifest and all the necessary information," the minister said.

“We have all the information about the passengers who traveled to Dubai. We have the manifest and all the necessary information,” she added.

Dubai was earlier not reported as a high-risk country according to the international situation report.

“But from the statistics, we now call upon all those who traveled for Dubai in the last two weeks to call our health desk and be tested for their own safety and the safety of all other Ugandans,” Ms Aceng added.