Panic has overwhelmed health workers, patients and people of Ntungamo after a husband to a Nursing Officer at Ntungamo Health Centre IV tested positive for COVID-19.
The patient has been isolated and is undergoing treatment at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital.
Ntungamo District is a hotspot area given its location at the border with Rwanda and a route to DR Congo and Burundi among other countries in East Africa.
The Ntungamo Municipal Health Officer, Dr Ndyanabo James confirmed the development noting that the samples of 13 people have been taken for testing including the wife to the victim who is a nurse and staff.
The victim has been staying with his wife and family members in the staff quarters at Ntungamo Health Centre IV which forced the management to temporarily close the health facility for some days until the results of 13 contacts are out.
Ntungamo Health Centre IV is the only health centre IV in Ntungamo Municipality serving over 10,000 populations and on a daily basis, facilitates more than 10 deliveries and over 26 outpatients.
Dr Ndyanabo said that the wife and family members have been ordered to go for self-isolation for 14 days. He asked the community to use other health centres for meantime.
The District Health Officer Dr Bakamuturaki Richard blamed the spread of COVID-19 to complacency but argued people to adhere to standard operating procedures in order to contain the disease.
This is the fifth COVID-19 patient in Ntungamo district but two have recovered and been discharged.
