By Stuart Bogere Oswald

KIU, Main Campus - The Uganda National Planning Authority (NPA) has called upon government to increase border restrictions amid high numbers of COVID-19 cases in neighboring countries.

In the weekly briefing on Covid-19, UNPA on Tuesday said “It is thus important to note that the immediate neighboring countries have a higher number of cases and they are increasing. There is need to strengthen the cross-border movement restrictions and testing at the border.”

The authority predicts that the week ending August 28, Uganda will have an average of 169 cases per day and a weekly total of 1,184 cases. For the week ending September 4, the cases will go up to 190 cases reported per day and a weekly average of 1,328 cases.

According UNPA the increase is attributed to the easing of the lockdown restrictions. The number of cases is likely to go higher depending on adherence to the prevention measures.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Health on August 20 warned that the country is likely to face a more lethal third wave of the pandemic if the prevention measures are not adhered to.