7 Ugandan students are among the travellers in isolation after they were supported to return home by their parents over Coronavirus, according to Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.
So far, over 260 travellers have been isolated in different parts of the country. The move is a preventive measure against the spread of the virus that has ravaged China and been confirmed in other countries.
“Of these, 88 are Ugandan citizens, 7 being students who were supported to return home by their parents,” Dr Aceng said. Uganda also has about 105 students in Wuhan City Universities where the deadly virus is reported to have originated.
“A total of 65 are known government sponsored students while 40 are on private sponsorship. Our mission in Beijing is in contact with these students on a daily basis. They created a Wechat group which enables them to chat and keep in touch with each other. The officer designated to follow them up is Philip Kanyoonzi,” Dr Aceng said in a statement she presented to Parliament on Wednesday.
Government says no Ugandan student in Wuhan has yet contracted the disease.
“During discussions with the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, we got a reassurance that the Chinese government will do all it takes to ensure that the Ugandan students are well taken care of. Students in the university halls of residence are being provided for food by the universities while those outside the universities have to procure their own food,” she added.
However, the risk of importation of the virus into the country is still high due to its rapid spread, according to government.
