London, United Kingdom | AFP | Much of the world is in lockdown, there’s a killer virus on the loose, but right now there’s only one question that needs answering: who was Madonna’s first husband? Half the faces on the computer screen look blank, but other people start writing, and the …
Read More »Truck drivers send Uganda COVID-19 tally to 74
🔹11 new cases, all truck drivers. 🔹 6 from Tanzania 🔹 5 from Kenya ✳ 17,388 tests ✳ 74 confirmed cases ✳ 46 recoveries ✳ 29 active cases ✳ 0 deaths Malaba, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | With six Kenyan and five Tanzanian truck drivers testing positive on Friday, Ugandan …
Read More »Fifth of New Yorkers infected with coronavirus, antibody test suggests
Nueva York, United States | AFP | More than one in five New Yorkers may have already had the new coronavirus, a testing sample showed Thursday, suggesting infections are much higher than confirmed cases suggest. Widespread testing — including for antibodies — is viewed as key to American states …
Read More »Madagascar hands out ‘miracle’ virus cure as it lifts lockdown
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Unarmed Madagascar soldiers went door-to-door in the capital Antananarivo, doling out sachets of a local herbal tea touted by President Andry Rajoelina as a powerful remedy against the novel coronavirus. Baptised Covid-Organics, the tonic is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in treating …
Read More »‘Serious side effects’ from Trump-backed virus drugs: EU agency
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The European Medicines Agency on Thursday added its voice to growing concern about an anti-malarial drug widely touted as a potential cure for the COVID-19 disease, warning about fatal side effects. Beneficial effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which count US President Donald Trump as a major backer, have “not …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Truth about COVID-19 food fights
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY The truth about the COVID-19 food fights: The comedy, corruption, and politics ANALYSIS Delivering education online: Coronavirus underscores what’s missing in Africa BUSINESS Big deal: Tullow Oil to exit Ugandan market, sales its …
Read More »German-funded mobile virus testing labs land in East Africa
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Uganda and Rwanda have taken delivery of two mobile diagnostic labs to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the first in a network of German-funded units for East Africa, public investment bank KfW said Thursday. While the project to procure the labs and train staff has been underway since …
Read More »Speaker Kadaga allows MPs to spend COVID-19 funds
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has allowed Members of Parliament to spend the money that was wired to their accounts to enable them to participate in activities aimed at containing coronavirus disease- COVID-19. The parliamentary commission received an allocation of 10 billion Shillings …
Read More »COVID -19: Trade Ministry to set up designated stopover points for truck drivers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Trade and Cooperatives will put in place stopover centers for truck drivers in a move aimed at fighting the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). With trans-boundary cargo vehicle drivers and their crew appearing to be the main new threat of spreading …
Read More »All Watoto team members discharged after recovering from COVID-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | All members of the Watoto Children’s choir who had tested positive for COVID-19 have all recovered according to information from the church. 14 out of 22 members of the choir tested positive upon returning into the country from the United Kingdom. Watoto Church Associate …
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