Minister Mutuuzo: Uganda considering closing schools temporarily to curb the deadly Coronavirus
Government of Uganda is considering closing schools temporarily as Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread cases rise globally as one of the preventive measures the country is undertaking.
The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo said the decision is to protect the children from the risk of contracting the virus in case it attacks schools.
“Take children home as much as possible! We would like them to go to school but if the crowds are endangered, they would rather have them at home, because the school can continue any time,” Mutuuzo said.
Minister Mutuuzo’s statements, however, contracted the statements made by State Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo who insists that all schools should continue with their learning program until they hear from the Ministry of Health.
“We expect that the Ministry to have normal school calendar followed to the latter until we hear from the Ministry of Health,” Muyingo said.
Mutuuzo adds that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be addressing the nation concerning the matter today and the state of Coronavirus in the country.
“The President is going to make a statement about the state of the nation specifically about Coronavirus hopefully tomorrow, but we are in high discussions and we are looking at schools, we are looking at public gatherings, we are looking at rallies, we are looking at prayers,” Mutuuzo mentioned.
Mutuuzo says that school children comprise 14 million of the 43.8 million Ugandans which increases the risk of spread in case any child contracted the virus.
Now according to Mutuuzo, school children should be sent home until the country is declared free from COVID-19 pandemic purposely to protect the children against Coronavirus.
“We are also trying to engage more people the stakeholders that the teachers plus the academic fraternity to be very conscious and very strict. It will only take a month or two to be declared free. So these stringent measures are temporary,” Mutuuzo said.
Uganda’s neighbours have already reported cases of Coronavirus and now Uganda is not taking any chance to let the virus in the country.
Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and DRC confirmed cases of COVID-19 and only Burundi and Uganda among the East African countries remain the only safe states from the virus as for now.
