The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has revealed that 17 staff of the secretariat are set to be put under institutional quarantine after two key staff tested positive for coronavirus.
According to a statement issued by the party’s Director for information, Publicity and Public Relations on Wednesday evening, the party headquarters are also set to undergo disinfection.
“Following an announcement by the Rt. Hon.Secretary General that two of our staff tested positive for Covid-19, an urgent meeting has been convened between the Secretariat Top Management team and the National Incident Management Team headed by Dr. Monica Musenero,” the statement says.
It adds, “After a thorough analysis of the risk and exposure of the members of this office, 2 staff who were confirmed positive have been taken under isolation and 17 others designated as high risks have been put under institutional quarantine for 14 days. Starting tomorrow (Thursday), there is going to be a heightened strict observance of the SOPs to minimise exposure and risk.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the party Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba revealed that two key staff at the secretariat had tested positive for the virus.
“This morning, two of our key staff at the NRM Secretariate tested positive for COVID 19. They have been admitted to Hospital for proper care. We are working with the technical people and further guidance will be given in due course. I urge everyone to stay alert, healthy and safe,” Lumumba says.
The NRM headquarters have been a beehive of activity in the recent weeks with political aspirants making visits to the place to pick nomination forms as the plan to vie for various positions in the party ahead of next year’s general polls.
Uganda has 1, 140 coronavirus cases with two deaths and 1,028 recoveries.
“The entire premises of the Secretariat will be disinfected this Wednesday evening before they are used. All staff that didnt test on Monday this week will undergo a Covid-19 test tomorrow (Thursday) at the Secretariat and those that were tested will have to repeat the test after one week. Let us all remain vigilant in this fight against Covid-19 and observe the SOPs,” Dombo’s statement says.