Six Murang’a MCAs who recently visited United Arab Emirates have been ordered to avoid accessing the county assembly premises for the next 14 days.
The Assembly Speaker, Nduati Kariuki said as a precautionary measure to contain spread of Covid-19, the MCAs who were on official visit to Dubai should voluntarily self-quarantine for the said period.
Through an internal memo, the speaker noted that United Arab Emirates happens to be one of the countries with high prevalence rates of coronavirus.
The Speaker’s directive came after the MCAs arrived in the country a week ago and did not self-quarantine prompting other members of the assembly to raise concern.
“The directive is not because the MCAs are suspected to have contracted the disease but as a precautionary measure,” stated Kariuki in the memo.
The Speaker further directed that all committee meetings in hotels and other places outside the precincts of the assembly be postponed until further notice.
Other measures taken to contain spread of the disease in the assembly, include sanitization of the chambers and all committee rooms several times on daily basis.
“At the gate to the assembly all visitors can sanitize their hands before entry as members and staff are required to sanitize themselves regularly and to observe strict personal hygiene at all times,” the Speaker further highlighted.
He observed that discussions are currently on going with other county assemblies to see whether the situation calls for temporary adjournment of assembly sittings.
“No decision has been reached about adjournment of assembly sittings as there are a number of things that need to be considered,” noted Kariuki.
On Monday, several directives were issued by the county government to contain spread of the virus in the county.
People who have patients admitted in hospitals were advised to avoid visiting them as their visits may put lives of the patients at risk of contracting the disease.
The stakeholders meeting bringing together officers from the county and national governments resolved that all bars in the county be closed until the time the country will be safe from the deadly disease.
Local residents were advised to exercise hygiene and minimize unnecessary traveling as this could expose them to the virus.
By Bernard Munyao
