The national tally on Covid 19 infection reached 1161 after 52 more cases tested positive to the highly contagious pandemic.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the fresh infections were detected out of the 2567 samples tested in the last 24 hours adding that at least 55,074 people have so far been tested since the coronavirus was confirmed in the country.
Speaking in Machakos County where he held the briefing today, the CS noted that 5 more people have been discharged and brings now the total of recoveries to 380 while fatalities still remain at 50.
Out of the tested cases, he noted that Nairobi had the highest number with 23 new cases, Mombasa recorded 7, and also Busia 7 cases.
“We are really concerned about the cases in Busia and urged the Busia County to be extra vigilant and careful being a border point as the figures in the county are beginning to grow”, he said .
The CS said that the National government recognizes the worth that County Governments are doing in response to the Covid 19 and is working towards strengthening counties capacity’s to mitigate the disease
“This disease cannot be tackled by one person only but by a whole society approach. we have an elaborate plan being implemented to ascertain preparedness and support needed in counties “, he said
He said that the normal briefings on Corona Virus that are usually held in Nairobi will be traversing to othee counties to ensure that all know that the virus is not for Nairobi only but for the whole country.
The CS congratulated health workers in Machakos saying as a ministry they were pleased in terms of general health and also containment measures that they were address saying the focus on capacity building at various levels had seen the government roll out Training of Trainers for 7 health care workers in each county trained .
This, he added will be cascaded downwards so that all personnel will have been trained. “So far 11,000 over across counties have gone through the training”.
He added that the government is supporting county governments by employing 5000 community health workers. the process is almost complete and congratulated Machakos which has already completed the process but asked other counties to expedite the same.
CS Kagwe however called on all to maintain governments measures as given and warned Machakos especially to be vigilant since they are at risk being in the transport corridor
“Machakos, even if you have 3 cases, you are not safe and you are at risk especially being a transport corridor, there will be errant people and intruders who will break the law and will be amongst you and infect am urging you to continue to adhering to containment measure and use nyumba kumi to raise alarm.,”, he said
On the issue of prototype PPEs, CS Kagwe said Kenya no longer requires to import PPEs since the local manufacturers are able to produce quality protective gears that have been approved by KEBS
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua said health care is not a luxury and that proper health is a right to the people adding that Corona is real and as a County, they support the national government on the measures its taking.
As for Machakos, the Governor said they will not allow trucks to stop in the County for long and that it being a transport corridor truck drivers will only be allowed to stop for 30 minutes and they move on but warned that drivers must also have the corona virus certificate as they move along.
“I want to thank the national government for looking at our health care personnel’s welfare. Here in Machakos health care have been paid their allowances in full and we are in the process of supporting in terms of giving them PPE and have tendered for around 10 ventilators’, he said
Governor Mutua further said that they have engaged the local polytechnics to produce masks and within a month they want to distribute to all the 1.5 million residents of Machakos with masks.
By Wangari Ndirangu
