The Ugandan Ministry of Health has told the press that they cannot rule out the possibility of a further extension of the lockdown if infections do not significantly reduce in the initially allocated 42 days of lockdown.
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary (PS) Dr. Diana Atwine however said that the country has started registering significant reductions in COVID-19 cases but insisted that more needs to be done to push the figures further down.
“Key to overcoming this [COVID-19] crisis is personal responsibility in observing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and vaccination.” Dr. Atwine said.
She further revealed that the government is set to receive 2 more batches of about 900,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses next month. The country’s COVID-19 infections now stand at over 78,000 with more than 900 deaths.
Meanwhile, from elsewhere in the world, Australia’s largest city Sydney entered a two-week lockdown on Saturday to contain a sudden coronavirus surge. Russia’s St. Petersburg announced a record death toll and several other European nations went into lockdown despite high immunization figures.
Bangladesh have imposed a new national lockdown from Monday (June 28th) over the variant, with offices shut for a week and only medical-related transport allowed.
New Zealand, citing “multiple outbreaks” in Australia, have also announced a three-day suspension of their quarantine-free travel arrangement with their larger neighbour.
Portugal have reintroduced restrictions in the worst-hit areas, including the Lisbon region, cutting back the opening hours of shops and restaurants and lowering the maximum numbers permitted there.
