National | THE NORTHERN LINK UG | All passenger flights between Uganda and India have been suspended as a control measure against a deadly new COVID-19 variant.
No travelers from India shall be allowed into Uganda regardless of the route of travel after 23.59 hours on May 1, the Ministry of Health announced today.
Minister of Health Ruth Aceng said in the statement that all travelers who may have been in India or traveled through India in the last 14 days shall not be allowed into Uganda. Those arriving before the suspension date will undergo a mandatory PCR test upon arrival unless they have done the test in the last 120 hours.
Travelers from the US, UK, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Tanzania will also be subjected to PCR COVID-19 tests at all entry points including Entebbe airport.
“I appeal to the communities and community leaders to be vigilant should they identify a traveler from any of the countries listed in the above categories and report to the district authorities,” Ruth Aceng said.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) early this week detected the Indian COVID-19 variant in Kampala.
Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, the executive director of UVRI says they have so far identified one case but are on the lookout for other cases.
“We have picked up one case but are still looking for more because we are not yet sure whether the infected person had interacted with other people,” said Prof. Kaleebu.
Reports already indicate that the country has so far detected over 300 cases of COVID-19 variants from other countries. According to scientists, there are now six strains of the disease circulating in the country at the moment. These include variants from South Africa, Nigeria, India, and the UK.
Travelers from the US, UK, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Tanzania will also be subjected to PCR COVID-19 tests
