Coronavirus – Kenya: Stiffer measures in place even as country confirms a total of 110 cases of Coronavirus
CS Kagwe stressed that the situation on coronavirus in the country is not
getting any better, and that the disease is a pandemic thus stiffer
measures will be implemented
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 3, 2020/ -- The
Government has confirmed 29 more cases of Coronavirus and two deaths in
the last 24 hours bringing the total number of positive cases to 110.
The two patients who had tested positive, died in Nairobi and Mombasa
respectively bringing the total number of those who have died to three.
Making the announcement the Cabinet for Health Mutahi Kagwe, instructed
all Boda Boda , tuktuk and matatu drivers to wear masks henceforth
including their passengers.
He revealed that the Government has authorized local production of face
masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for health workers, which will be availed to them through Counties and public transport
associations.
The 29 confirmed cases were from 662 samples that were tested in the last 24 hours, twenty eight Kenyans and one Congolese.
“Going forward it will now be possible for one to acquire the masks from the tailors cheaply but with the right materials,” he explained.
He also advised the members of the public against traveling up country
during Easter holidays. “We are discouraging mass movement of people
staying in Nairobi from travelling upcountry. The dangers of this are
real. It is very easy to transfer the virus to those living up country
especially the elderly,” he noted.
CS Kagwe stressed that the situation on coronavirus in the country is
not getting any better, and that the disease is a pandemic thus stiffer
measures will be implemented to deal with the disease.
In order to heighten the level of preparedness, the CS said that the
government has now instructed with immediate effect the hiring of 5000
skilled health workers across the country within the next 7 days and
Counties have been instructed to submit their requirements by Wednesday
next week while the hospitals who have given their requirements have
been instructed to continue hiring.
“It is our wish that in the next seven days the hospital will have hired an additional 1000 health workers and this means that at least 6000
additional health workers will be in place to fight the pandemic,” he
added.
He urged the County Commissioners and Headteachers with boarding facilities, to start planning ahead for any eventuality.
Out of the confirmed 29 cases 13 are males and 16 females aged between
16 to 64 years. Twenty three (23) of them were detected in the
designated quarantine facilities while six (6) are from suspected cases
admitted in isolation units in various Health facilities.
“Fellow Kenyans I do not want to scare you, but with the figures, the
number is likely to rise. It is important to note that this virus does
not move by itself. It is moved by you and I. we must change our
behavior and attitude if we have to cut the transmission of the virus,”
the CS said.
He also confirmed that the Deputy Governor of Kilifi, County Gideon
Saburi, who had been placed under mandatory quarantine has fully
recovered and had been declared fit after being subjected to three
tests, all of which turned negative.
Dr. Patrick Amoth , the Acting Director General added that local
transmission is now in the country, clustered in various counties.
“Out of the over 100 plus cases that have been confirmed about 30 or 40
local transmission with no history of travel, others with no history of
contact with COVID 19. We are in the era of local transmission,” he
emphasized.
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