The number of COVID-19 cases in Uganda has continued its upward trend after 98 new cases were confirmed from the 4,131 samples tested on August 20 bringing the cumulative cases to 1,848, according to the Ministry of Health.

The 61 number of alerts show a continued rise in community infections while 21 contacts of previously confirmed cases, 5 truck drivers and 3 returnees from abroad complete the case count.

Of the alerts and contacts, 75 are from Kampala, 6 from Luweero, 3 from Jinja, 2 from Tororo and one each from Adjumani, Kasese, Buikwe and Ntoroko districts.

The 5 truck drivers all arrived from Kenya while the 3 returnees are from Kenya, DR Congo and South Sudan.

11 foreign truck drivers who tested positive at the borders were not allowed to enter the country in line with a government directive to have positive people treated in their countries of origin.

The Ministry of Health has expressed concern over the ever-rising number of alert cases, which has led to a decrease in recovery rates, with the current 1,199 recoveries meaning that Uganda currently has 649 active cases.