The new wave of deaths and fast-growing community transmissions from COVID-19 in Uganda is not about to halt the government from its plan to reopen the economy to business in phases.
The latest news from the Ministry of health is that the government is in the process of resuming airport business anytime from now but with standard operating procedures (S.O.Ps).
Dr. Diana Atwine, Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, on Monday, hinted that the ministry has already met with scientists and is discussing to determine what necessary S.O.Ps would work both at the airport and on the planes.
“There is a plan to re-open Entebbe International Airport but we will wait for scientists to give us a report on the standard operating procedures (S.O.Ps) presented to them by UCAA before a decision is reached to reopen the facility,” Atwine said.
During the phased reopening, the government has given standard S.OPs to be observed by all reopen businesses that include among others wearing face masks, washing of hands or sanitizing, and social distancing.
Dr. Atwine said the government would first address the risks and ensure that the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) puts in place measures for travelers.
President Yoweri Museveni in March 2020 ordered a national lockdown following the 1st COVID-19 case that was a 36-year-old Ugandan male who arrived from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines and presented symptoms of high fever and poor appetite, according to authorities.
The President was compelled to issue a directive banning all flights into the country starting the next day at 12:00 pm on Sunday 22 March 2020, no passenger planes or human movement was allowed to enter or leave the country.
Since then only Cargo planes and their crew members are allowed in the country meanwhile the neigbouring Rwanda and Kenya have already reopened their airports.
