It was decreed that only those with negative COVID-19 test certificates would attend the events, and as such, all political leaders were subjected to COVID-19 tests, as a precondition. But when the results were returned, the DHO announced that up to 65 people from the group had tested positive for coronavirus disease.
The deceased in his sixties, has been a prominent businessman operating in Arua town and reportedly fell sick with flu and cough but was delayed at home, only to be rushed to Rhema private hospital later before he was referred to Arua hospital where he breathed his last.
The five are part of Radio Pacis staff who were quarantined after they were identified as direct contacts of their colleagues who first tested positive. They included two security guards at the mast, a cashier and two radio presenters.
Paul Bishop Drileba, the Arua District Health Officer, says they were forced to contravene the Covid19 Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs and reduce the mandatory quarantine period so as to cut on the high cost of keeping the suspects.
Dr. Aldo Pariyo, the proprietor Pioneer Hospital has confirmed the development, saying the positive Covid19 patient traveled from Kampala to Arua and sought treatment at the hospital where he was admitted for four days because of hypertension.