Coronavirus – Kenya: Don’t mislead Kenyans on Coronavirus Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) warns leaders
The misinformation has been doing rounds in the social media where a local
leader claims that there are over 7000 people in mandatory quarantine
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31, 2020/ --
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has condemned leaders who are
spreading false information on coronavirus.
“It’s disheartening for those in leadership to continue perpetuating
false information that has nothing to do with real cases just to gain
political mileage, ” the CS said after confirming four more cases of
coronavirus in the country bringing the total to 42.
The misinformation has been doing rounds in the social media where a
local leader claims that there are over 7000 people in mandatory
quarantine.
“This is not true. It is immoral and unethical for anyone to mislead
people for whatever reason they may have in regard to the fight against
Coronavirus.” he noted.
The CS disclosed that medical teams from the Ministry of Health have
embarked on mass testing for persons who arrived in the country last
week based on their dates of arrival.
He said that the suspected cases will remain in quarantine for the full
duration while those who test positive will be taken to isolation
facilities.
The CS disclosed that a total of 69 samples from suspected cases of
Coronavirus have been analyzed in the various laboratories and out of
these four cases have been confirmed positive for coronavirus.
The confirmed include one Kenyan and three foreigners from America,
Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Three of the cases are from Nairobi and one
from Mombasa. This now brings to 42 the number of those who have tested
positive for the virus in Kenya.
Nairobi County continues to lead with 31 cases of those who have so far
tested positive, followed by Kilifi with six, Mombasa with three, while
Kajiado and Kwale with one each”, the CS said.
Out of the 42 positive cases, 24 are male while 18 are female. Tracing
of contacts for the 42 confirmed cases is ongoing bringing the total
number of close contacts that are being monitored to 1426.
Out of this number, the CS said 215 have been discharged after
completing the mandatory 14 day follow up period and currently the
Health Team is now monitoring 919 close contacts while 18 individuals
are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital awaiting test results. So far the
government has tested 877 persons for coronavirus disease.
As of 28th May 2020 the global figures stood at 571, 678 of persons who
have tested positive for Coronavirus and 26,494 have succumbed since the disease outbreak.
Within the last 24 hours Italy has reported 971 deaths, Spain 769 deaths while USA has recorded a total of 16894 new cases with 252 deaths in a
period of 24 hours.
This scenario, the CS said reflects the possible outcomes that the
country is likely to face if we are complacent with the measures the
government has put in place.
The CS appealed to Kenyans to embrace this fight against coronavirus as opposed to assuming that it is a government affair.
He noted that the Government is expanding capacity particularly in the
counties and applauded the initiatives that private sector has taken in
particular the provision of PPE.
“There is no country that has been able to contain the disease on its
facilities alone, our health facilities can be overrun anytime by the
demand,’ he noted and added that next week the government will also hire 1000 medical personnel.
The Ministry is also working with the Ministry of Trade and industry to
provide products such as masks and Protective Personal Equipment (PPE)
locally.
“We are purchasing ventilators from many parts and although there is a
shortage across the world , we have people who are assisting us such as
the World Bank who have donated 250 ventilators and every effort is
being done to source for many more,” he said.
Trade CS Betty Maina added that within the country, there are 50
companies that are capable of manufacturing ventilators and personal
protective gears and they are working together to ensure there is great
capacity to supply goods.
Isiolo Governor Mohammed Kuti urged the schools to identify isolation
areas incase the government is overwhelmed by the numbers. He also urged the companies and experts who can produce masks or protective gears to
liaise with County Emergency Response team.
The CS for Health also appealed to employers to release their employees early from their workstations to beat the curfew time.
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