At least 104 police officers and their immediate family members have been put under quarantine after a policeman tested positive for coronavirus in Masindi District on Friday.
Deputy Police spokesperson, ACP Polly Namaye, told journalists on Sunday that during a meeting held in Masindi, it was resolved that the police barracks be cordoned off to stop the spread of the virus in the district.
The meeting comprised the Director of Operations, Director of Medical Services and the Deputy Director of Logistics and Engineering in the Uganda Police Force and district management teams in Masindi.
Ms Namaye said the 29-year-old policeman is a Police CID detective who was residing in the barracks.
“The Ministry of Health that carried out this rapid testing survey together with police management have put in quarantine all the 104 police officers residing in the barracks and their immediate families,” Ms Namaye revealed in a statement on Sunday.
She urged the police officers to report any progress.
The deputy police spokesperson revealed that the Directorate of Logistics and Engineering of the Uganda Police Force will attend to the logistical needs of all the officers under mandatory quarantine until the Ministry of Health clears them.
“In the meantime, the Uganda Police Force has sourced for reinforcement from other stations to ensure that Masindi police station remains open as the institution is aware of the need to keep the station running,” Ms Namaye said.
Ms Namaye said all the police officers and their immediate family members shall be tested for the virus and communication shall be made to ensure safety of people seeking police services at different stations.
“All police officers are advised to exercise precaution while going about their duties to avoid contracting infections such as the Covid-19, reads the statement.
The infected cop was transferred from Masindi and is currently admitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital for specialised medical management, according to Dr Rogers Musinguzi, the head of Covid-19 case management committee at Masindi hospital.
Mr Samuel Kisembo Araali, the head of the District Covid-19 Taskforce for Hoima and Kikuube district said the referral was done on the advice of the Ministry of Health,.
The Ministry of Health is currently conducting rapid assessment survey among high risk groups to establish community transmission.
Uganda is still in lockdown until May 5.
Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, said results from this survey will inform the phased lifting of the lockdown.
Three tests turned out positive on Saturday bringing the total number of those infected with the virus in Uganda to 88.
One was a Burundian and a Kenyan truck driver who entered Uganda through Malaba and a Ugandan in Rakai district.
