Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District Chairperson and 12 others including staff of Amuru District Local Government have tested positive for COVID-19.
Among the 13, seven were community members from Obiya West Village in West Division of Gulu City and five staff of Amuru District Local Government. The Chairman has now been evacuated from his residence in Obiya West village, For God Parish in the West Division of Gulu City and taken to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital treatment unit for management.
Bishop Loum Janani, the in-charge of the Public Health Department at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and head of the surveillance and case management at the facility explained that Mapenduzi had tested following the recommendation requiring all COVID-19 task force members to undergo mandatory checkup after every fortnight to safeguard themselves against the virus.
Gloria Aloyo, the District Information Officer says the Task Force on Tuesday commenced compulsory testing of all Gulu District Local Government staff in the wake of rampant community infections.
The Gulu COVID-19 treatment centre has cumulatively admitted up to 473 patients out of which 240 have recovered and discharged from the facility. Meanwhile, 255 active patients are still undergoing treatment including 154 inmates from Amuru Prison and 55 from the community.
Uganda has now registered a cumulative of 3,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 positive patients since March, 46 deaths. ENDS