The Ministry of Health has confirmed 1,272 new COVID-19 cases in Uganda.

In the latest update, two new COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded, bringing to 3,287 the cumulative number of people that have succumbed to the virus in Uganda.

This is according to results from tests conducted on December 27, 2021.

The cumulative confirmed cases are 137,270, and the positivity rate is 18.3%.

Coming into December, the positivity rate was under 1%, but there has been a surge in cases in the second of this month, partly attributed to the emergence of the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa in November and has now spread rapidly in several parts of the world, including Uganda.

According to the latest update, 69 people battling COVID-19 are admitted in different health facilities.

The new cases were from 1,252 alerts and contacts registered from the following areas:

In Kampala 741, Wakiso 226, Mbale 40, Jinja 30, Gulu 37, Mbarara 31, Rakai 15, Soroti 13, Kabale 9, Adjumani 9, and Busia 22.

Others are from Iganga 7, Masindi 7, Bududa 6, Tororo 10, Kalungu 5, Luweero 5, Hoima 3, Ibanda 3, Namisindwa 3, Mukono 3, Ntungamo 2, Budaka 2, Kyotera 10, Amuru 8, Kabarole 3. Jinja 2.

The coronavirus was also detected in 20 truck drivers: Kyotera 14, Kampala 3, Tororo 2 and Ntungamo 1.