At least 20 female inmates at Nakasongola Prisons have tested positive for COVID-19. The samples of the inmates were picked from Nakasongola Health Center IV over the weekend and sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute for COVID-19 testing when they presented with breathing difficulties and COVID-19 like symptoms.
Dr. Agaba Byamukama, the Nakasongola District Health Officer, says the affected inmates have been transferred to another facility under Uganda Prison Services for treatment. He says that 29 other inmates were in contact with the positive cases having been isolated. According to Agaba, they have not registered any positive COVID-19 case from the community.
Frank Baine, the Spokesperson of Uganda Prisons Service, says that the affected inmates were transferred to Gulu Central Prison for treatment. He says that the 29 contacts are quarantined at the Nakasongola prisons, which also acts as an isolation facility for COVID-19 suspected inmates from the central region. Baine says that they have put in place measures to protect inmates, saying that visitors are out of bounds to prison facilities.
According to the test results released on 1st June, there are 1,083 new cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 49,759. At least 832 new cases are from Kampala, 101 from Wakiso, 22 from Lira and 20 from Luwero. Masaka registered 20 cases, Tororo 19, Mbarara 14, Busia 11 and Gulu 7 cases. At least 365 deaths have been registered across the Country.