KAMPALA: Government has urged Ugandans to continue to comply with the public health Standard Operating Procedures after the economy is reopened in January 2022, to prevent a surge in the spread of COVID-19.
Senior Presidential Advisor on Public Relations, Mary Karooro Okurut on Monday, December 13, 2021, addressed the press at Uganda Media Center regarding an upcoming COVID-19 awareness campaign in preparation for the festive season and reopening of the economy.
The Remain Vigilant Against COVID-19 campaign run will be held under the theme: ‘It is my responsibility to prevent the surge of COVID-19 infections when the economy reopens’. The mini-marathon will take place on Sunday, December 19, 2021, in Kololo -Kampala. It will be graced by Uganda’s International Athletics stars Joshua Cheptegei, James Kiplimo, and Peruth Chemutai.
Karooro noted that the proposed campaign is intended to keep the nation alert, to avoid a surge in infections after re-opening. “As Ugandans gear up for the full opening of the economy, the nation must be on the alert for its people not to put their guard down and cause what several countries in Europe and the United States are experiencing – a surge in infections after re-opening,” she said, adding that Uganda needs to pick a lesson from these experiences around the world concerning the full reopening of the country economy.
“It is important that the government of Uganda launches a sustained campaign to raise the people’s consciousness to appreciate that the full reopening of the economy does not mean that the situation has completely normalized,” Karooro further noted.
Just like other countries in the world, Uganda has battled the COVID-19 pandemic since 2019 to date. On Tuesday, December 7, Uganda joined 10 other countries in Africa where the Omicron variant has been detected. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said seven travelers had tested positive for the variant after landing at the Entebbe airport. The travelers were from South Africa (two) and Nigeria (five).