Posted: 3rd April 2020

COVID-19 in the countries we work in overseas – update 3

Today we reached a new milestone in the Coronavirus crisis with now over one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 being registered globally.

At Signpost International we continue to work and communicate with all of our communities throughout the world during this global pandemic.

We want to keep you, our Global Neighbours up to date with the current COVID-19 situation in the countries and communities we work in overseas.

As we have mentioned in all of our updates information regarding the virus is changing all of the time, so at the time of publishing (2:45pm on Friday 3rd April 2020) this is the current situation in the countries we work in.

Uganda

There are now 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Uganda and currently there have been no deaths as a result of the virus in the country. There has been the first confirmed case of Coronavirus in the Wakiso district of Uganda. We work in different communities in the Wakiso district but the community with the confirmed case is not one of the communities we work in. Currently there has been no confirmed cases in the communities we work in.

Restrictions on movement of people including public and private vehicles is in place and all non-food stores are closed.

Our in-country partners gave us this update this week on the situation in the country and communities we work in. “Currently, we are under total lockdown, however we have been able to secure permission from the relevant authorities to continue our work as it is acting as an emergency response to Coronavirus. We are already in the advanced stages of executing the effective hand washing campaign to help communities fight the virus. As well as this we have been using the public address system for easy information dissemination. We have someone who conveys recommended health advice in the local language using the system.”

Tanzania

There have been 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tanzania and one confirmed death. The government this week introduced enforced social distancing in the country. However, there is a fear that the current restrictions are not enough and that this will lead to a large increase in the virus. As church services and funerals are still taking place and public transport is still operating as normal. There is currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the communities we work in.

The Philippines

The past week has seen localized testing begin in the country, this in turn has led to a high increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. There are currently 3,018 confirmed cases of the virus with a death toll of 136.

In the Philippines we work in the neighbourhood of West Habog Habog. West Habog Habog is a neighbourhood in Iloilo city. Iloilo city is a province in Western Visayas. Western Visayas is an administrative region in the Philippines.

This week our in-country partner gave us an update on the situation in the country and the community we work in. “Iloilo City and the Western Visayas is now on enhanced community quarantine and no public transportation is allowed.  Social distancing is strictly observed, no mass gatherings are allowed including church services and shops are closed except for supermarkets. Before the lockdown we decided to conduct a community wide education campaign about Coronavirus with an emphasis on practicing  proper handwashing and hygiene. On 23rd March every household was issued a Quarantine pass. The pass is used for entry and exit to the community.  Community visitors and non-residents are not allowed in without a pass. Mobility is limited and restricted right now to contain the spread of the virus.  Local government units are distributing relief goods such as two kg of rice, noodles and canned goods but they are very limited. Alcohol is out of stock as well as surgical masks, we are now using DIY masks. As of today, there are 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Western Visayas.”

Just like last week the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus continue to rise in the countries we work in and throughout the world. Please do continue to pray for these countries and communities, and as one of our partners asked, ‘please pray for our safety and for the safety of those on the frontline.’