Uganda ramps up testing ahead of lockdown end date

Uganda plans to test about 20,000 people in the space of a week for coronavirus.

Survey results are expected on May 4, a day before the country's lockdown is due to end.

Uganda’s health minister says the survey will help to inform when or how to ease restrictions.

Of a population of about 43 million people, Uganda has 79 confirmed cases of the virus.

At least 20 of Uganda's positive cases are lorry drivers, who have until now been a major focus for testing because they are highly mobile.

But following criticism that there hasn’t been enough community testing, people like market vendors, health workers and religious leaders - who are considered most at risk of contracting the disease - will be screened.

Blood samples will also be taken to check for Covid-19 antibodies, but most governments have reported that the tests available are unreliable.

It’s not clear how Uganda plans to overcome that.