Mombasa County Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19 has announced a raft of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in the coastal city.
The committee ordered closure of all Sunday school sessions and Madrasa classes with immediate effect as part of the containment measures to curb further spread during the third wave.
The committee co-chaired by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said the decision was arrived at following the latest realization that children could be silent spreaders of the virus.
“We have decided to close the Sunday Schools and Madrasas until further notice to stop the spread of the virus and also to protect our children,’’ said Deputy Governor William Kingi who read the statement on behalf of the committee.
The committee stated that it is difficult to monitor young children and ensure they observe health protocols adding that in the absence of severe cases, children can easily spread the disease to elderly people.
The committee also prohibited all indoor sporting activities and said Covid-19 Antigen tests will be introduced at the border points within the county. “We also advise those of 55 years and above to avoid large crowds including religious congregations as 90 percent of the Covid-19 deaths affect the elderly people of this age,” said the committee.
It also called on the interfaith committee to offer guidance to their congregants on how to keep safe in places of worship based on available guidelines.
The committee further announced that all matatus will now be diverted to the newly constructed Liwatoni footbridge to reduce congestion at the Likoni Ferry channel which connects Mombasa Island and the Mainland.
“During the scheduled (morning and evening) time of the floating bridge, all matatus and passengers will be diverted to the bridge as part of the containment measures against spread of coronavirus,’’ said the committee.
It is estimated that more than 300,000 people and 6,000 vehicles cross the busy channel daily using MV Jambo, MV Kwale, MV Likoni, MV Kilindini and MV Nyayo.
The county emergency response committee’s latest intervention comes a few days after the national government announced new measures to tame the spread of Covid-19 whose positivity rate during the third wave has jumped from 2 to 22 percent between January and March this year.
The containment measures includes partial lockdown of Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kajiado and Machakos Counties.
by Mohamed Hassan
