Schools closed, church services banned for 32 days

By Jjunju Francis and Ben Musanje

18^th March 2020

President Museveni has ordered for the closure of schools and suspended religious gatherings across the country in the attempt to safeguard the country from the spread of COVID-19 or coronavirus.

Although there is yet no confirmed case of coronavirus as of (March 18 2020), President Museveni said all pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, university and other tertiary institutions of learning have to be closed by Friday, March 20, 2020 for one month.

He says it’s wise that a temporal closure especially over what he called highly concentration points to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Religious gatherings; night prayers, masses and Juma prayers would also be suspended for one month with immediate effect.

Another areas seriously affected are Public rallies and cultural meetings and elections that were to take place for the PWDs and the Youth leaders that were supposed to be under taken next month have also been suspended for 32 days.

The President also said it was wise for Ugandans not to travel to high risk countries and any Ugandan returning from the affected countries will be quarantined for the set period by the health experts (14) at their cost.

He mentioned the countries at a high risk like; Italy, France, South Korea, China, UK, USA, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Norway, Malaysia, Pakistan, San Marino, Austria, and Netherlands that any Ugandan who will have gone through them will be quarantined for 14 days but it would wise to avoid travelling to such country until the 32 days period is over.

According to the president, Ugandan style of holding what he called a pentagon of weddings that attract mass gatherings should be suspended for 32 days but in case of an avoidance let it is like what the Canon Law of the Catholic Church teaches.

He further noted that known concentration points like factories, parks and industries will continue operating but with approved Standard Operating procedures put out by the ministry of health.

Funerals and burials should be attended by only close relatives and neighbors around, according to the president.

The issue of hygine has been emphasized because the Coronavirus has been confirmed to be transmitted through sneezing or sliver and if it’s avoided, people keep clean, wash hands with soap and avoid toughing in the eyes, nose and mouth with unclean fingers it can be an effective way of controlling the virus. Good diet by eating of fruits and vegetables and taking a lot of flues is paramount.

The Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said it was essential that everybody drinks highly. One is supposed to take at least three liters of water or juice per day. Also eat a lot of fruits reach in vitamin C and a lot of vegetables.