By Rogers Wanambwa 

KIU, Main Campus - As health facilities continue to become overwhelmed by bulging numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the country, the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has advised against admitting each and every individual that tests positive for the Coronavirus. 

Yesterday, another COVID-19 related death brought the number of to 26 after the death of a 27-year-old patient from Mengo while a further 98 people were confirmed positive according to the Ministry of Health's results. 

It is mandatory for all these people to be admitted, isolated and treated from health facilities. This, however, the association says may not be necessary since patients can as well be monitored from home with regular communication with the health workers. 

According to urologist Dr Henry Asiimwe, who is in charge of welfare in the UMA, only those patients that have presented with severe and moderate symptoms should be admitted and discharged as soon as they become asymptomatic. 

On the contrary, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health said that because of the lackadaisical manner in which Ugandans have handled the Standard Operating Procedures, even though the suggestions by UMA have indeed worked elsewhere, it is hard to believe that asymptomatic individuals will not go around spreading the virus. 

But Dr Charles Olaro, the official in charge of COVID-19 treatment centres at the Ministry of Health, said that options like keeping patients at home may be considered in the future. 

For now, he added, they are creating and equipping more treatment centres and infrastructure to cater for severe cases among which is Namboole Stadium with a 1,200-bed capacity. 

According to the Ministry of Health, of the over 2500 COVID-19 cases, 1268 have been discharged leaving more than 1000 patients still admitted.