UGANDA has reported its first case of the Indian variant of Covid-19.
A sample from the infected person, who is receiving treatment at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital Kampala, was taken on Monday.
This is the first confirmed case of the Indian variant in Africa, although many countries do not carry out the tests need to verify.
The Executive Director of the Uganda Virus Institute, Dr Pontiano Kaleebu, said that more emphasis would have to be placed on preventative measures and testing at the country’s borders.
Uganda rolled out the first phase of its vaccination campaign in March after receiving 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab through the global-sharing Covax scheme, and an additional 100,000 from India.
So far, 304 000 people have taken their first dose.
India is currently battling a second wave of coronavirus that has devastated its cities, with hospitals running of beds and oxygen and funerals taking place in car parks.
BBC