Uganda reports 357 new COVID-19 cases, 16 deaths

Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 357 new confirmed coronavirus cases taking the nationwide total to 36,407.

ELEGU, UGANDA – 2020/05/28: A health worker dressed in a protective suit as a preventive measure collects swab samples from a truck driver to be tested for coronavirus at the Elegu border point. He will have to wait days for the result. Uganda closed its borders in March to everyone except cargo planes and truck drivers. (Photo by Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The capital Kampala accounted for more than half of the cases (181) followed by the districts of Wakiso (71), Mbarara (18) and Soroti (15). In total, 27 districts reported at least one confirmed case.

Uganda has so far carried out tests on 762,862 samples, with 4,479 tests done in the last 24 hours.

The number of deaths in the East African country shot up to 290 from 274 after health authorities confirmed a number of deaths over a three-week period were related to COVID-19.

“16 COVID-19 deaths reported between 15 December 2020 and to-date have been investigated and confirmed. The deaths are reported from various parts of the country,” the ministry said.

The number of recoveries also stood at 12,387 after 120 new recoveries were reported.

A steady increase in COVID-19 cases in recent months in the East African country has been blamed on complacency by citizens and blatant violation of COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Authorities have repeatedly urged the public to adhere to the existing health protocols but vowed to crack down on members of the public caught violating them.