Uganda closes schools as coronavirus cases rise

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has shut down schools and suspended public gatherings for a period of 42 days, as the country faces a surge of infections in a second Covid-19 wave.

Public transport between districts will be banned from Thursday onwards, to allow students who are in schools to return home.

Bars, cinemas and theatres have also been closed.

Dozens of schools had reported virus cases among staff and students prompting the closure.

The announcement came hours after the health ministry announced 1,259 new coronavirus cases – the highest number of infections recorded in a single day – and nine deaths on Sunday.

A rise in coronavirus cases was reported two weeks ago and officials mulled over a lockdown to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed.

The national referral hospital Mulago reported a spike in Covid-19 patients last week, saying it needed to increase bed capacity.

Uganda has 52,929 cases of coronavirus and 374 deaths so far.