All 1,032 suspected coronavirus samples tested negative on Wednesday at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, ministry of Health has announced. That means Uganda's confirmed coronavirus cases remain at 55 with 12 recoveries and 0 deaths.
According to the ministry, out of the 1,032 samples tested, 551 were samples from cargo truck drivers while 481 were from individuals under quarantine and their contacts across the country. Uganda banned public transport and non-essential private transport until May 5. Cargo trucks with a total of 3 crew, including the driver, are still allowed to cross borders with government intensifying testing at border entries.
On Wednesday Mulago national referral hospital discharged 4 patients who have fully recovered from the coronavirus disease. According to the officials, the discharged patients have tested negative twice and are now clinically free of the virus.
They were part of the 23 patients that the hospital has been managing with officials saying they might discharge another 6 patients today Thursday pending their results from the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
This week, Adjumani hospital discharged its single patient and Entebbe Grade B hospital discharged 7 patients a few days ago. But as Uganda reported no new cases on Wednesday, there was a spike to 88 in Tanzania after 35 new cases and one death were registered on the same day.
Tanzania remains one of the few countries in the world that have resisted the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations of total lockdown so as to prevent the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the USA registered a record of 2,457 deaths in 24 hours on Thursday to take its total deaths to 28,504 - the highest in the world. France registered 1,438 deaths on Wednesday. Globally there were 7,772 new deaths recorded and 79,844 new cases. A total of 2,077,750 cases have been confirmed around the world.