Speaking at their send-off on Friday, the Director Jinja Regional Referral hospital, Dr Florence Tugumisirize, said the discharge brings to 17 the number of recoveries out of the 35 patients that have been undergoing treatment at the facility.
“Today (Friday) we have discharged 13 patients but previously, we discharged four and are now remained with 18 patients, including a baby; but the results came indicating negative but the mother is positive,’’ she said.
She, however, added that no health worker at the facility has tested positive of Covid-19.
“Since April when we registered the first Covid-19 case, no health worker has tested positive and we’re making sure that we follow the guidelines and standard operating procedures,’’ she said.
According to Ms Tugumisiriza, they currently face a challenge of inadequate beds to accommodate the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.
“Although we have just received 200 mattresses, the number of beds are not enough yet the number of patients keeps increasing,’’ she said.
Chapati vendors to be tested
Ms Tugumisiriza said allegations that Covid-19 patients have been escaping from the isolation units to buy snacks are yet to be confirmed.
“We have agreed with the district health officials and the village chairperson to take samples from people manning chapatti stalls and quarantine them as a preventive measure because we can’t take such allegations lightly,’’ she said.
Dr Asad Muyinda, the in-charge Covid-19 isolation unit at Jinja hospital, urged the public to obey all guidelines from the Ministry of Health to reduce the increasing number of patients.