Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday ruled out national lockdown as a way of containing the widely spreading Ebola.
Ebola was first declared in the Mubende district by the Ministry of Health, which is now spreading across the country as far as the capital, Kampala.
Museveni however stated that there won’t be a need to lock down the country, urging citizens to observe guidelines put in place to curb the spread of Ebola.
“There will be NO LOCKDOWN. Therefore, people should go ahead and concentrate on their work without any worry,” he said on Twitter.
Also Read: 15 Cases of Ebola Confirmed in Kampala
According to a report by the World Health Organization, Uganda has registered over 150 cases and 64 fatalities.
WHO further urged neighboring countries to be cautious as they were at a higher risk.
Museveni had earlier during the onset of the outbreak declared a lockdown on two districts, Mubende and Kassanda, setting a dusk-to-dawn curfew, banning travel, and closing markets, bars, and churches for 21 days.
Related: Uganda: Three-Week Ebola Lockdown in Two Districts
The strain now circulating in Uganda is known as the Sudan Ebola virus, for which there is currently no vaccine.
Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, with common symptoms being fever, vomiting, bleeding, and diarrhea.