KAMPALA: The Police Spokesperson, CP Fred Enanga on November, 29, 2021 urged citizens and visitors to be vigilant and aware of the COVID-19 variant Omicron that was labeled a ‘variant of concern’ by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Enanga said that although no case of the new variant has been reported in Uganda, this serves as a clear reminder to every Ugandan and visitor, that this pandemic is far from over yet.
“This is the third occasion that the deadly variant has popped up, and as long as the virus is detected anywhere, it still poses a threat to our country,” Enanga said.
Enanga further reminded Ugandans that we are entering the festive season, where an increase in COVID-19 violations is expected. “This therefore, calls for increased visibility and enforcement, because of the potential of high transmission rates that may arise due to an increase mobility, gatherings, celebrations, and thanksgiving parties,” he added, noting that many Ugandans have relaxed and are not following the health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of physical distancing and mask wearing.
He also thanked the President and the Ministry of Health for making huge efforts to get the vaccines into the country, for all eligible persons to reduce severe disease in vulnerable groups.
Noting this, Enanga urged all citizens to get vaccinated to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We want to urge citizens to reduce on the burden of COVID-19, by doing all they can to reduce any new transmissions by increasing vigilance and observing the COVID-19 protocols, the public should know that people who are not vaccinated, have greater risks of getting infected, than people who are vaccinated,” Enanga said.
Enanga advised those who are still indecisive about vaccination to get vaccinated because vaccines are made in order to protect people from very severe consequences of human infectious diseases and other diseases that vaccines are used for.
The new COVID-19 variant was first in Southern Africa and has now been detected in New Zealand, England, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hungary and other places.
As a result, travel restrictions have been imposed on a number of Southern Africa countries like Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe by the UK, Japan and other countries.