Lockdown lifted, key issues in President Museveni’s Covid-19 address

By Website Writer; On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, H.E YK Tibuhabura Museveni lifted lockdown on some sectors since July 30, 2021.

President Museveni said that, since his last address to the nation in July, the COVID-19 transmission rates in the country have continued to decline hence the safe re-opening of sectors under lockdown.

However, some districts continue to show higher transmission rates and are considered hotspot districts. This persistent transmission is in the following 9 districts namely: Kampala, Kalungu, Kabale, Kumi, Soroti, Tororo, Gulu, Nwoya and Yumbe.

President Museveni noted that for the safe lifting of restrictions, the National Task Force usually considers a number of factors such as; risk of transmission in that sector, the vulnerability of individuals, and the overall economic impact. This is further guided by the following:

• Scientific evidence-based approach for safe and sustainable reopening in a phased manner.
• Enforcement of the SOPs by the sector in line with the COVID-19 Statutory Instrument
• Increased awareness by the sector of the risks and adherence to SOPs

President said that the Cabinet will fast track its amendment of the current Public Health Act to facilitate the enforcement of SOPs and include among others, the on-spot and court fines of those who fail to adhere to SOPs.

Here are the sectors that were pending the lifting of restrictions reviewed by the National Task Force:

1. Places of Worship:

The places of worship can now open under the following conditions:

• Limit the number of worshippers at any one time to not more than 200 provided the place of worship can ensure physical distancing of 2 meters on either side and adequate aeration.
• There must be strict adherence to all SOPs at all times i.e., hand washing/ use of alcohol-based sanitizer, temperature monitoring, and consistent wearing of face masks by all congregants including the choir and preachers.
• No congregation for worship after curfew hours.
• The 200-persons-limit, physical distancing, and all other SOPs should be respected even during special occasions e.g. weddings, funeral services, confirmation, etc.
• Partner with the Government to communicate and mobilize the population for vaccination and other control measures.

2. Weddings, Burials, and other social events:

The number of persons attending these events can now increase to 200 under strict observance of SOPs.

3. Casinos, Gaming, Betting shops, and Gyms:

• The casinos, gaming, betting shops, and gyms can now operate during the day and close by 6:00 pm.
• The various local governments, Cities, and Kampala Capital City Authority working with the National Gaming and Lottery Board MUST inspect the various betting outlets for suitability and adherence to SoPs before opening.

4. Concerts, disco halls, performing artists, and beaches:

These tend to congregate in large numbers and are difficult to control.  With the level of vaccination still low, I direct that these remain closed until at least the 4.8 million priority population is vaccinated.

5. Bars:

Bars are a high-risk area where individuals have no sobriety to observe the SOPs. They will be considered for re-opening when the 4.8 million priority population is vaccinated.

6. Cinemas and Bibanda (Local Cinema Halls):

These should remain closed as the local cinema halls are areas of immense crowding and mostly have poor aeration and are designed to have artificial ventilation systems.

7. Curfew:

Restriction of movement of persons at night time is key to the enforcement of other preventive health measures. Curfew remains at 7:00pm – 5:30am. Boda Bodas should stop movement at 6:00 pm.

8. Weekly markets:

These are open-door settings and currently, transmission rates are low in some areas. These can be opened with strict adherence to SOPs and the curfew hours except for current hotspot districts (Soroti, Kampala, Kalungu, Kabale, Kumi, Tororo, Gulu, Nwoya, and Yumbe). The RDCs, RPCs, DPCs, DISOs, GISOs should enforce adherence to SOPs.

The Minister for Health is to follow up with the hotspot districts and review their situation for safe re-opening of the weekly markets after two weeks.

9. Reopening of schools:

• Post-Secondary institutions of learning to open with effect from 1st November 2021 on condition that; all teachers and non-teaching staff are vaccinated.
• The 330,000 students aged 18 years and above in post-secondary institutions should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
• The rest of the learning institutions will open in January 2022.
• Teachers and support staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible to enable safe re-opening of schools.

Patient Care

Regarding patient care and the challenges observed in the second wave were: High patient numbers, Inadequate oxygen supply, Insufficient bed capacity, High cost of care, and holding of dead bodies by the private health facilities.

Ministry of Health is expected to;

• Fast track the installation of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants at National (1) and Regional Referral Hospitals (15) and the cryogenic plants at 3 designated regions.
• Prepare selected district hospitals in hard-to-reach areas and islands as treatment centres to cater for patients that have challenges accessing Regional Referral Hospitals.
• Strengthen Home Based Care (HBC) through refresher training of VHTs and equip them with the HBC Tool kit.
• Work with the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure that schools designate their sick bays with basic Infection, Prevention and Control materials for isolation of mildly sick children once schools open.

Strengthening decentralized response:

The implementation of preventive health measures is majorly carried out by the Local Governments.

Ministry of Local Government to ensure continuous functionality of the District and Sub-County Task Forces.

Museveni also recognized Ugandan health workers for their commendable job since the start of the pandemic.

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