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The Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised that there are new operating hours for the designated COVID-19 testing sites. The opening times for the Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St Michael, are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On weekends and holidays, it will operate from 8 […]
The post Revised times for national COVID-19 testing centres appeared first on Barbados Today.
A November 26 letter from the presidency asked the head of Uganda's national drug authority to 'work out a mechanism' to clear the importation of the vaccines.
China has about five COVID-19 vaccine candidates at different levels of trials. It was not clear what vaccine was being imported into Uganda.
One of the frontrunners is the Sinopharm vaccine developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates said the vaccine has 86% efficacy, citing an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.
China has used the drug to vaccinate up to a million people under its emergency use program.
On Tuesday, Morocco said it was ordering up to 10 million doses of the vaccine.
Record cases
Uganda on Monday registered 701 new COVID-19 cases, the highest-ever daily increase, bringing its national count to 23,200.
The new cases were out of the 5,578 samples tested for the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry said in a statement.
Tuesday's tally was 606, the second-highest ever number of new infections, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the east African country to 23,860.
Health authorities have blamed ongoing election campaigns which have drawn huge crowds for the rise in infections.
PrideInn and Swiss Hotels set to open
Thursday, June 4, 2020 0:01
By JAMES KARIUKI |
PrideInn Group chief executive Hasnain Noorani.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Hotels are adopting new operating procedures to keep coronavirus infections at bay while ensuring foreign and local guests patronise the facilities.
PrideInn and Swiss Hotels International said its staff had been trained in the new operating procedures to ensure safe and secure stay.
Group managing director Hasnain Noorani said the reopening would see the 1,000 employees recalled to service orders from local clientele at its eight four-star outfits and the five-star PrideInn Paradise Beach and Spa Resort in Mombasa.
“Business will not be as usual and we’ve already made changes to our standard operating procedures in accordance to the rules provided by the Ministry of Health that advocate social distancing, frequent sanitation to ensure the safety of both our guests and our staff,” he said.
Mass testing for Covid-19 kicked off in China with all residents required to produce proof of residence, and valid visas for foreigners which entitled them to testing catered for by their monthly contribution towards the government medical scheme.
Public health and law enforcement agents did not entirely ace the manner in which foreigners of African descent were treated in the wake of the mass testing exercise in Guangzhou that kicked off late March, as it is believed some did not possess valid visas or work permits.
In comparison to China, Germany and South Korea have impeccably managed to contain the spread and infection cases after making a series of damning mistakes while combating similar epidemics that preceded the novel coronavirus
.
From these epidemics, both Germany and South Korea saw the need for early testing and the isolation of the infected patients to avoid secondary infections.
Similarly, China, South Korea and Germany have a written infectious-disease-prevention legislation that allows medical practitioners to use available diagnostic kits during a public health emergency and warrantless access to geolocation data from suspected infected cases to expand contact tracing.
The new cases come from 1,187 samples tested on Saturday at border points and the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
At least 19 of the new cases are Ugandan truck drivers who entered the country through the Elegu and Busia border points while four cases were from community infections.
According to the Ministry of Health, all the community cases are contacts of truck drivers who tested positive for the virus.
Uganda's new cases come at a time when the number of cases reported on the African continent is on the rise.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says despite the rise in the number of cases, there is still hope that the effect of the disease on the continent might not be as dire as earlier predicted.
Smarting from backlash over quarantine conditions for returning Jamaicans at two St Ann hotels, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday apologised for a slew of logistical foul-ups, including rooming delays and substandard meals.
Tufton’s apology, made to reporters in St Ann, came just an hour before Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued one of his own “to every returning citizen who has had to endure less-than-favourable conditions”.
Relatives of quarantined guests blasted the authorities for their management of accommodation and food arrangements days after Holness said at a Jamaica House press conference that “if persons are looking for something to complain about, it will always be found”.
Holness, in a statement from Jamaica House some time after 6 p.m., acknowledged that the difficulties “relate primarily to delays in the admission process at the quarantine facility and the lack of timely provisions of meals”.
Addressing reporters after touring both the Jewel Paradise Cove, where 120 persons are being confined, and the Bahia Principe, which houses 345 others, Tufton told reporters that institutional quarantines were a “big task” that required much manpower.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced allocation of Sh6.5billion to the ministry of education as he indicated that schools will be reopening soon.
Speaking during the Seventh Presidential address on the coronavirus pandemic the eight-point economic stimulus programme on Saturday, President Kenyatta said he was aware of the anxiety weighing on the minds of parents and their children in regard to when schools will re-open.
The taskforce on Covid-19 education response committee chaired by Dr Sara Ruto on Friday said it had received 3,000 individual and institutional submissions on re-opening of schools.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) is proposing partial opening of schools by June 15 for national examination candidates.
Kuppet said adverse consequences of school closures lead to rise in dropout rates, increased exposure to violence and exploitation, confusion and stress for teachers and poor nutrition for children, who rely on free or discounted meals provided at schools.
Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) chairperson Nicholas Gathemia in a presentation to the Covid-19 Education Response Committee chaired by Dr Sara Ruto also want national examinations be rescheduled to later dates when candidates are adequately prepared.
The team will advise the Cabinet Secretary on ways of on-boarding students or pupils when the schools re-open as well as document all Covid-19 related matters, lessons learnt and recommendations for future preparedness.
It will also advise the Cabinet Secretary on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the demand for education by poor households and suggest mitigation measures as well as on health and safety measures to be put in place for the pupils or students, teachers and entire school community.
Other members of the team are; Chairman, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Indimuli Kahi, Chairman, Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association Nicholas Gathemia, CEO, Kenya Private Schools Association Peter Ndoro and Chairman, Kenya Parents Association Nicholas Maiyo.
Also in the team are Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Augustine Muthigani, Kenya Association for Independent International Schools Jane Mwangi, National Council of Churches of Kenya's Nelson Makanda, Muslim Education Council's Sheikh Munawar Khan, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akelo Misori and Chairman, Kenya Special Schools Heads Association Peter Sitienei.
Members of Parliament have questioned how textile firm Nytil was awarded a contract to produce and supply facial masks across the country.
\"Now that government is to provide masks to Ugandans, I seek to know how ordinary companies and young people making masks can benefit.
In his address on Monday, President Museveni said it will take Nytil two weeks to manufacture masks for all Ugandans above six years of age.
It was, however, sold in 1996 to Southern Range Nyanza Limited, a private company owned by Mr Kishor Jobanputra, who is also a member of the National Response Fund to Covid-19 formed by President Museveni on May 3.
Government had threatened to cancel the VAT concession in the 2014/15 budget before Nytil ran to Parliament and threatened to lay off more than 3,000 employees directed employed by the company.
Nairobi — The Ministry of Education says it will require additional funding to the tune of Sh429 million to facilitate the testing and provision of protective kits for the trainers and students in the country's Techinical and Vocational Training colleges in the post-COVID-19 period.
In documents presented before the Education Committee, the ministry said trainers, trainees and all staff will be required to be tested, have face masks, soaps, sanitizers and running water before they resume learning.
The Ministry of Health recently announced that testing for COVID-19 has been pegged at Sh1,000 at all public health facilities but it is estimated that the test cost between Sh4,000- Sh10,000 depending on where they are conducted.
The Ministry said it requires a further Sh3.8billion for the expected increase in enrolment of students.
According to the Ministry, the current allocation of Sh5.2 billion only caters for the 173,000 students against a projected enrollment of 300,000 students.
Nairobi — The Aga Khan University Hospital has started conducting free COVID-19 tests for all in-patients, surgical and day surgery patients, in a precautionary measure aimed at combating the spread of the virus.
The hospital said the move will help it determine the best approach to care for its patients including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during their admission.
\"Since the onset of the pandemic, the hospital has remained in consultation with the Ministry of Health, our medical staff, and experts in our Infectious Diseases Department to ensure that we have a safe environment of care for our patients, visitors and staff.
During this period, all our services have continued uninterrupted both at the Main Hospital in Parklands and Outreach centres,\" part of the statement read.
Since the outbreak of the virus, the hospital has enhanced its measures including the Establishment of a disinfection team which is trained by its Infectious Diseases experts, to clean and disinfect the Hospital and clinics on a daily basis.
\"The 14th Presidential Address by Kaguta Museveni on Covid-19 which was slated for today has been moved to tomorrow, Tuesday 19th, at 8pm.
According to Dr Henry Mwebesa, the director general of Health Services at the ministry, social media reports that 105 truck drives have tested positive for COVID-19, are false.
He said that the ministry did not release results on Sunday because samples had to be sorted appropriately and divided between Uganda Virus Research Institute and the National Health Laboratory Services by laboratory teams for quick turnaround time.
Dr Mwebesa said that all truck drivers have to undergo COVID-19 testing and receive results before proceeding to Immigration at border points.
Previously, truck drivers were allowed to proceed with their journey after their samples had been taken and when the results turned positive, they would be followed up.
Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie says the Ministry is working to address issues with COVID-19 testing. Bisasor-McKenzie has indicated that there has been a drop in testing over the past few...
The Ministry of Health said in a nightly Covid-19 update on Tuesday, June 2, that the latest victim was a 24 year-old policewoman who was serving abroad and had been repatriated in critical condition.
\"She fell ill with Covid-19 and was repatriated home in critical condition for intensive care,\" it said in a brief statement released late Tuesday.
The first case was a 65-year-old truck whom the ministry said had returned to Rwanda, in critical condition, from a neighbouring country where he was residing.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the health ministry confirmed seven new positive Covid-19 cases and seven recoveries.
Rwanda has carried out a total of 70,108 Covid-19 tests since it reported its first case back in March.
An extraordinary cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Tuesday, June 2, approved the resumption of inter-provincial travel and passenger taxi-moto services except in Rusizi and Rubavu districts.
The resolutions that take immediate effect, follow a recent assessment of the Covid-19 prevalence in the country, which revealed that Rusizi - which borders DR Congo- had community Covid-19 cases.
In the past two days, the district recorded at least 12 cases that, according to the Ministry of Health, involved cross-border traders, truck-drivers and a motorcyclist who transported goods.
\"Public and private transport between provinces shall resume except movement to and from Rusizi and Rubavu district,\" reads parts of the statement published by the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, June 3.
All latest measures will be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment, according to the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister.
All the three confirmed cases are samples taken from vendors at Najjembe market in Najjembe division, Lugazi municipality in Buikwe District.
Dr Richard Bbosa, the Buikwe District health officer said the ministry informed them about the positive cases at Najjembe market where they conducted mass testing.
Mr Mutwalibu Lukyamuzi, the councillor of Najjembe division said that there should be measures put at the truck drivers and all those who buy food stuffs at the market to avoid more cases.
Mr Muzamir Kyezimbira, the chairman of Najjembe market said it has over 400 vendors working in it and that they are now worried after registering positive cases.
We believe that those who tested positive got the disease from drivers of small cars because trucks were banned from stopping at Najjembe market,\" Mr Kyezimbira said.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday confirmed the detection of 36 more cases of COVID-19 from the results of 556 tests that were done.
The article 36 more COVID-19 cases recorded appeared first on Stabroek News.
Uganda's confirmed Covid-19 rose to 212, as more people who came into contact with truck drivers tested positive.
The country also denied entry to five Tanzanian truck drivers who tested positive at the border.
Previously, truck drivers were allowed to enter the country before getting their results and would be tracked if their tests returned positive.
However, the truck driver now have to wait for their results.
If they test positive, foreign drivers are denied entry while Ugandan drivers are immediately taken for treatment.
Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie says the Ministry is working to address issues with COVID-19 testing.\tBisasor-McKenzie has indicated that there has been a drop in testing over the past few...
Kampala — The Ministry of Health says it is going to test all journalists who are covering Covid-19 related activities to ensure that they are safe and not transmitting the virus.
While receiving donations at the ministry headquarters yesterday, Dr Diana Atwine, the ministry's permanent secretary, said whereas they keep testing themselves every two weeks, journalists are not tested for the virus and yet they keep interacting with new people everyday.
In keeping with Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation guidelines of preventing the disease, most media houses adopted measures to safeguard themselves from getting their staff infected.
Yesterday, the ministry and the national Covid-19 taskforce continued receiving donations from well wishers.
These included from Fountain Publishers that donated text books worth Shs354 million, Toyota Uganda, which donated a brand new Hino Truck valued at Shs225 million and 6.5 tonnes of posho for health workers and a cash donation of Shs20 million.
Caroline Murang'a, 31, is a lifestyle photographer and the owner Murash Media Production.
\"The most valuable lesson I have learnt is that strangers will support you more than friends,\" 31-year-old Caroline Murang' a sums up the business lessons she has learnt in the last five years.
\"Weddings are my favourite events to cover, no wedding is the same; I get to experience a different culture with each one so I never tire of them.
\"At the wedding, I noticed the fancy cameras the videography crew shuttled around.
I got talking with them and by the time the wedding reception was over, I was offered an internship,\" she recalls how her love affair with cameras began.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has denied that it plans to resume passenger flight operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
This comes a day after an internal memo by JKIA Airport Manager Abel Godo to officials from the Aeronautical Operational Control (AOC), all government agencies, concessionaires, contractors, suppliers and service providers about the imminent resumption of passenger flights for a meeting leaked.
\"In preparation of the imminent resumption of passenger operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you are hereby invited to a virtual meeting to be held on Wednesday 13th May 2020 at 11.00hrs,\" read the memo.
She clarified that the meeting, which has since been postponed, was meant to put in place measures in case the flight operations resume.
Moi International Airport Manager Paul Wafula confirmed that they do routine meetings internally to brainstorm on the measures to put in place just in case the travel ban is lifted.
Ethiopia's confirmed Covid-19 cases on Sunday reached 582 after 88 more infections were confirmed, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health said in a statement.
This is so far the highest daily increase in the Horn of Africa country, which on Saturday reported 61 new confirmed Covid-19 cases.
The Ministry of Health said all 88 new Covid-19 cases are Ethiopian nationals – 51 males and 37 females – with their ages ranging between 8 to 75 years.
The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health also said that 152 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have so far recovered from the virus.
Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of Covid-19 on March 13.
