COVID-19 Updates

New York, U.S. | Xinhua | As the cold days set in, the United States is again seeing a surge of COVID-19 cases, though deaths and hospitalizations trend lower, while the federal government’s vaccine mandate consistently faces legal challenges and sectoral resistence. According to The New York Times, the seven-day average …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The enforcement of COVID-19 surveillance in primary and secondary schools has been left to teachers. This is according to the school re-opening plan by the Ministry of Education. When schools reopened in October for candidate and semi-candidate classes last year, the health ministry’s schools re-opening …

The Hague, Netherlands | Xinhua | The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the authorization of two medicines for the treatment of COVID-19. The two medicines are Ronapreve made by the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Roche, and Regkirona made by South Korean drug company Celltrion, the agency said in a statement on …

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Razak Waswa, a senior laboratory technologist attached to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is in trouble for issuing forged COVID-19 test results to a wanted murder suspect, Mathew Kirabo. Waswa is in custody at Jinja Central police station awaiting prosecution. A detective told URN on condition …

Kabarole, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health workers in Kabarole district have started mass Covid-19 vaccination for all teachers and non-teaching staff. Four vaccination centres have been set up in Kabarole district and Fort Portal city. The centres include Kyebambe Girls, Nyakasura School, Kigarama and Kiburara primary schools. Stephen Muhenda, the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Deputy Speaker Anita Among has named a select committee of Parliament to investigate the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero over the alleged misuse of shs31 billion meant for Covid-19 vaccine development. Among named the committee during a plenary sitting on …

New York, U.S. | Xinhua | Drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said on Tuesday that they had asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize booster shots of their COVID-19 vaccine for all adults 18 years old and over, seeking to broaden who is eligible for a third shot. The …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The administration of J&J vaccines has become an issue of controversy following contradicting statements made by health officials. So far, the country has received 650,000 J&J vaccine doses. Statements earlier made by officials from the health ministry, National Medical Stores, and the World Health Organisation, had …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ntungamo Muncipality MP Yona Musinguzi has tabled before the House documentary evidence seeking to implicate the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero regarding the utilization of funds meant to facilitate the COVID-19 vaccine development. This follows the MP’s verbal accusations made on the …

The battle illustrates the continuing contentiousness surrounding COVID and how government officials are trying to reduce its spread Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | A U.S. federal appeals court over the weekend temporarily blocked the White House’s vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees, raising concerns over whether more challenges …