Ever since new cases of Covid19 were reported days ago, some Ugandans have been worried about the possibility of a new lockdown. Covid19 lockdown fears were worsened by claims of a new more lethal variant.
Reports of a new deadlier Covid19 variant in Uganda spread after at least 10 employees of the Total Energies-run Tilenga Project area, had caught Covid19.
The positive test results were reportedly discovered as Total Energies conducted routine medical examinations for its staff in the camp.
Yet health officials charging with managing the current cases say the patients presented symptoms of a normal existing variant of Covid19 that was not as lethal as widely reported – headache, cough, sore throat and fever.
As such, the 10 cases are being handled as minor in a treatment unit set up in the camp.
The Pearl Times has learnt that about eight of the patients have completed the recommended treatment while the rest are still being treated, according to local health officials in Buliisa district.
We have also learnt that the Covid19 surveillance teams are monitoring up to 50 people for the same viral respiratory disease.
Covid19 incident commander in the Ministry of Health, Dr Col Henry Kyobe, says the trends of new Covid19 positive cases are not alarming since they are at the same level as has been the case in the previous 12 months, with thousands of tested samples returning a few dozens of positive cases.
In any case, Dr Kyobe has been quoted as saying, Covid19 would ordinarily spread faster in a camp, yet the cases in Buliisa as not severe and are not cause for alarm and panic.
But in the digital age, the absence of clear communication from the Ministry of Health and local health officials can easily sow seeds of panic as The Pearl Times has observed on social media channels where people were talking of a looming lockdown over an alleged more lethal Covid19 variant.
Health ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona says Ugandans do not need to be scared since government has the capacity to handle any new outbreaks.
“The rate at which Tik Tokers are spreading misinformation is alarming. These are old images from many years back. We should desist from spreading such false information about Covid19,” wrote Ainebyoona as he shared a video of a woman spreading panic over unverified reports of a new lethal variant and an impending lockdown over the same.
“Ministry of Health has the capability to handle any re-emergence. Don’t be scared!”
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