ANKARA

Ugandan companies have started sourcing of external employment for migrant labor abroad as they will assume business after the government announced Monday the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, local media reported on Tuesday.

“This is to inform all licensed companies involved in the sourcing of external employment for Ugandan migrant workers, that following the relaxing of a number of Covid lockdown measures by Ministry of Health and resumption of air travel, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will be lifting the ban on labour export by licensed companies in accordance with the existing mandatory Covid SOPs [standard operating procedures] for all travelers,” the local Daily Monitor website quoted Labour Minister Frank Tumwebaze as announcing Tuesday.

Easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the country includes mass gatherings in purpose of prayers, weddings, political rallies, and meetings as the allowed number of attendees has been revised from 70 to 200, according to the report.

Also, as of Nov. 14, cinema halls and gyms are scheduled to re-open in the country, while bars and discos remain closed, the Daily Monitor reported.

Since March, the Ugandan authorities have confirmed 133 COVID-19-related deaths and 14,574 infections, according to figures compiled by the US-based John Hopkins University.

Worldwide, the death toll from COVID-19 exceeded 1.26 million in 190 countries since the disease was first detected in Wuhan, China in December last year. The number of infections is over 50.9 million, according to the latest figures from the same University.