Omicron Variant Will Not Affect Full Reopening Of The Economy- Health Minister Aceng Assures Ugandans
By Ugandaonline
Kampala: Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has assured Ugandans that the New Omicron Variant that was confirmed in Uganda will not affect the full reopening of the economy come January 2022.
Following the detection of nine Omicron variant cases among travelers from South Africa and Nigeria, the public raised concerns that the presence of the new variant in the country would affect the reopening of the economy with others expecting another total lockdown.
However, Aceng said the new variant will not affect the reopening of the economy and the country will not go into a lockdown.
Aceng added that all the persons who have tested positive for the disease are being managed and none of them have severe forms of the disease. “We have isolated them but so far they are fine and have mild forms of the disease”.
She urged all Ugandans to get vaccinated since the evidence shows that the variant is being detected mostly among people who are not vaccinated against COVID. In addition to vaccination, scientists say people need to adhere to the standard operating procedures.
Initial data from the World Health Organisation preliminary studies showed that Omicron is three times more likely to re-infect people compared to other strains such as Beta or Delta. In South Africa, the variant has led to an increase of COVID-19 cases by 311 percent, but no deaths linked to the variant have been recorded yet globally.
