Uganda Prisons Services in pre-caution partial lockdown due to COVID-19 surge.
The hotspots, according to the Health Ministry statistics are Kampala, Wakiso, Kiruhurua, Luwero, Mbale and Jinja among others. The Ministry says it has so far administered 11 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Following the increase of COVID-19 cases and the surge of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron in the area surrounding the barracks, and in Uganda at large, Uganda Prisons Service authorities have started enforcing a “partial lockdown” for the prisons headquarters in Luzira, including the continued restrictions on visitors.
Uganda Prisons Services, Commissioner General, Johnson Byabashaija said that prisons is taking serious cautions to avoid a crisis.
He added that it’s the reason behind the few cases.
“For us we take precautions because we have congested populations. That is why we have had only 4 inmate deaths,” he said.
A December 28 memo from the Prisons Director of Administration to all members of top management partly reads, “Given the increasing trend of COVID-19 cases in Kampala Metropolitan with Luzira Barracks having positivity rate of 77%, the management has directed that prison headquarters is partial locked down with immediate effect”
Heads of departments have been instructed to maintain 30% workforce and enable 70% of staff to work from home.
The Ministry of Health on Thursday revealed that results of COVID-19 tests done on 28 December 2021 confirmed 1,809 new cases.
Earlier on Tuesday, 1,272 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the country.
The cumulative confirmed cases are 139,079.
The test positivity rate which had dropped to less than 0.5% three months ago, now stands at 22 percent.
The hotspots, according to the Health Ministry statistics are Kampala, Wakiso, Kiruhurua, Luwero, Mbale and Jinja among others.
The Ministry says it has so far administered 11 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
