Total lockdown is the best solution to arrest the current second wave of Covid-19 according to health specialists.
Covid-19 cases and deaths have shot up in the recent days, forcing President Yoweri Museveni to slap inter district lockdown.
The country has seen a jump in casualties of 100 in the last 7 days, the highest since the pandemic was confirmed early last year.
Citizens continue to embrace the standard operation procedures which include; wearing a face mask, washing hands with soap, sanitizing and keeping a social distance.
Many government and private hospitals have confirmed shortage of oxygen in their Intensive Care Units ICU due to the high numbers of cases.
There continues calls for a total lockdown to arrest the situation from the health experts and politicians. With 25 cases confirmed last night, it appears likely President Museveni may be tickled to act if the trend continues in the days ahead.
Ministry of health confirmed last night the arrival of more AstraZeneca doses in the country to continue with the vaccination campaign.
Ainebyoona Emmanuel@ainbyoo: “The @KLM flight carrying the 175, 000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines has landed at Entebbe International Airport.”
However, Kitgum woman MP Dr. Lillian Aber took to social media platform Twitter on her personal account to call for lockdown (total) for two weeks.
Dr. Lillian tweeted: “I think a lockdown for at least 14 days would help reduce the spread of this virus. Just thinking aloud.”
The legislator’s proposal raised lots of dust among the population on social media with lion’s share dismissing it as unnecessary.
Some came up with ways that would not necessitate for total lockdown.
Miiro Faisal@miiro48: “I disagree. Locking down with no mass testing and vaccination of the masses is useless. And this is before we even look at the economic impact of such a measure. Who takes care of those that earn daily? Will we have an improved health system after the 14 days?”
Mark kikune@kaikune: “The fact is that there are so many people dying everyday and Covid is not the cause. This virus has been given too much attention. I believe people should be advised on how to survive the Virus instead of stigmatising them with fear.”
Jacob Otile M.D@DrOtileUg: “How about we do mass community testing first to inform this decision.”
Modest Kamurase@MKamurase: “Lockdown isn’t a solution. The first phase of Covid-19 was different from this one. And this time round the disease is both in urban and in the village. Just sensitise citizens about SOPs and let them find what to eat.”
Lwanga Faisal@FaisalLwanga: “I so far know 3 close friends who have lost parents due to covid so I agree 14 days is good but I think shld put in more efforts in enforcing the SOPs.”
Abenj Papa@abenj_papa : “Covid-19 has penetrated up to the village level, mass testing and vaccination will be the best solution per now than the lockdown because majority is having covid-19, let’s look for solution. Now imagine a person died of covid-19 in apyeta palabek, what for, the prevention measure.”
SMG@SMG2620houdini: “A lockdown is pointless without a plan to deal with all the attendant circumstances (legal meaning). There is no calculated and clear plan from the govt on how to create more bed space or mobile health facilities, monitor the sick, provide medication food etc.”
Reuben D. Kamanzi@krdesire: “No Lockdown: SOPs sensitization should be scaled up – on a positive note recoveries are currently at 76% (43,434 Vs 63,099) Let’s encourage the citizens to adhere to SOPs.”
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.