Epidemics Tracker

Tanzanian president throws spanner into COVID-19 testing | THE INDEPENDENT | For those who recall the #WhatWouldMagufuliDo hashtag on Twitter in 2015 and have been following Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli’s unorthodox methods since then, his recent sting on the country’s COVID-19 testing facilities is nothing unusual. But it is …

Is this hope or gloom for Africans? COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it encourages innovations in the search for potential treatments for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) including repurposing drugs, traditional medicines, and developing new therapies. COVID-19, a newly identified strain of …

  Malaba, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The cumulative number of foreign truck drivers confirmed with COVID-19 in Uganda rose to 61 Sunday, after the Ministry of health announced five more positive tests. The truck drivers now account for over 50% of Uganda’s positive tests, that stand at 121. The …

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | Police are struggling to implement physical distancing guidelines during the arrest of persons accused of violating the lock down rules. The Health Ministry recommends a distance of 4 and half meters between individuals as part of the Covid19 prevention measures. However, Uganda Police Force is failing …

Amuru, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The second out of the 13 truck drivers who tested positive for Corona virus on Friday has been intercepted. The 26-year-old Kenyan truck driver of Somali origin was intercepted on Saturday evening at the Uganda– South Sudan one stop border point in Elegu town in …

Wakiso, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Residents of Bweyogerere in Kira Municipality in Wakiso district have raised fears of contracting Corona virus from cargo truck drivers who leave Namboole Stadium to buy drinks and food in the neighborhood. Namboole stadium is one of the designated parking areas for transit cargo trucks. …

Mukono, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The Health Ministry has intercepted the Ugandan truck driver who tested positive for the Corona virus disease-Covid19. The fuso truck driver was intercepted on Saturday evening at a police check point at the Mukono-Jinja- Bugerere road junction on his way from Kampala to Mbale district. …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci is among three members of the White House’s coronavirus task force who will self-isolate after potential exposure to the pathogen, US media reported Saturday. On Friday, reports that Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary had tested positive heightened …

Cotonou, Benin | AFP |  Benin on Saturday was conducting mass coronavirus testing of teachers ahead of the reopening of schools as part of a plan to loosen measures against the pandemic. The West African nation of 11 million is set to end six weeks of travel restrictions to key …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Former president Barack Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster.” In a leaked web call Friday night with former members of his administration, Obama also said the Justice Department’s decision to …