While the world sees a daily rise in cases, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has come up with a stark warning that the Coronavirus pandemic is far from over after recording about 106,000 news cases in 24 hours as many countries were emerging from lockdown and letting people resume their usual lives but with an observation on social distance.
However, the virus is currently spreading to poorer countries mostly in the African continent as 95,000 cases have been reported according to the World Health Organisation’s regional office for the continent. Fewer recovery cases have been identified and the reason for the discrepancy is not yet clear.
Currently East Africa is facing a “triple menace” of mutually worsening disasters such as ongoing heavy rains which have become a barrier in the attempts of dealing with a swarm of locusts that recently invaded these countries in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Most countries have however taken up the initiative to go under lockdown as others emphasize tight restrictions such as introduction of curfew hours, observing social distance as well as constraints on travel and commerce as a way of preventing the spread of the virus.
Betting that the coronavirus pandemic is now under control, the President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni recently eased the country’s lockdown which had gone up to 48 days when he announced the reopening of businesses, schools but only candidate classes, transportation both private and public.
He further emphasized that for the country to reduce on the spread of this virus, each person above the age of 6 years will be provided with a mask therefore, it is mandatory to wear a mask in public for as long as the vaccine is discovered.
This pandemic has however affected the economy of many countries Uganda in particular as all businesses came to a halt for about two months.
Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. It affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. Other symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, loss of speech or movement, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions. Follow advice provided by your local public health agency.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Stay at home if you don’t have an important reason to leave your house.
- Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Stay home if you feel unwell.
- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance.
- Follow the directions of your local health authority.
- Avoiding unneeded visits to medical facilities allows healthcare systems to operate more effectively, therefore protecting you and others.
