Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has declared an immediate three-week lockdown in two high-risk districts as the country faces a tough showcase in Ebola infections.
President Museveni introduced the lockdown for the two districts after the shocking rise of the killer virus, where dozens have already been infected and nearly 20 patients have died.
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To protect Ugandan citizens, there is now an overnight curfew, while bars, restaurants, entertainment areas, and places of worship have been closed in Mubende and Kassanda districts respectively.
Curfews directives will also be imposed in places such as gyms, saunas, and other entertainment and recreational venues though schools will remain open, he added.
“Given the gravity of the problem and to prevent further spread and protect lives and livelihoods, the government is taking extra measures that require action from all of us,” Museveni said in a statement.
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The Ugandan health ministry will also increase contact tracing and assistance to local health facilities.
Speaking at a media briefing earlier this month, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the vaccines used successfully to curb recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not effective against the type of Ebola virus now circulating in Uganda.
“However, several vaccines are in various stages of development against this virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in Uganda for the coming weeks, pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government,” Tedros added in his statement.
Uganda has experienced four Ebola outbreaks. The deadliest left more than 200 people dead in the year 2000.
Furthermore, Uganda at large is looking for suitable solutions to protect citizens from the deadly Ebola virus by any identified means accredited by the Ministry of Health.
