Uganda Registers First Covid-19 Death as Cases Rise to 1,079 in Total

The Ministry of Health has reported the country’s first Covid-19 death as confirmed Coronavirus cases rise to 1,079 in total.

The deceased was a 34-year-old Ugandan support staff working in Namisindwa District, according to Dr Henry Mwebesa, the director general health services.
She first presented with Covid-like signs and symptoms including fever, dry cough, headache and difficulty in breathing.

She was initially admitted to Wasungui HC II on Wednesday (July 15, 2020) and treated for severe pneumonia.

However, on Monday (July 20, 2020), she was transferred to Joy Hospice health facility, in Mbale District, where she was isolated in the female ward.
While in isolation, the patient’s condition deteriorated with difficulty in breathing, cough, chills and headache. She passed on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) at 2:00am and was buried on Thursday (July 23, 2020) as per Safe Dignified Burial procedures.

“In our earlier report we had indicated that the deceased was not a Ugandan. Further investigations have since established that she was a Ugandan from Manafwa, Bubulo East, Namabya- Namunyali- Sisongofwa,” Dr Mwebesa told journalists in Kampala on Thursday.

The postmortem samples from the deceased were confirmed positive for SARS-COV-2 by four laboratories: UVRI, CPHL, Tororo and Makerere.
“In addition, findings at postmortem showed features of acute pneumonia, findings that are consistent with COVID-19 infection,” he added.

The Namasindwa District Task Force has reportedly been reactivated to coordinate the district response.

So far, 30 contacts to the deceased have been listed and placed under quarantine by the health authorities in Namisindwa and Mbale districts.
Dr Mwebesa said the listed contacts so far include family members, and healthcare workers, with the process of contact identification and listing still ongoing.

.@tegegny: The community must follow public health preventive measures. Wear a mask always, wash hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer and maintain social distancing. #STAYSAFEUG pic.twitter.com/lBNDe7vQBR

— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) July 23, 2020

.@RichardKabanda2: this is critical and an eye opener for the general public. Many people thought Uganda had no COVID or it was different from what the rest of the world is facing. But we have now seen that COVID is real, dangerous and kills. #STAYSAFEUG pic.twitter.com/NgNLAUUxZJ

— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) July 23, 2020