Over ten bars have been closed in Mavoko Sub-county of Machakos County for contravening the Corona virus regulations.
This was revealed by the area Deputy County Commissioner David Juma when he addressed the media yesterday.
He said the closure was as a result of increased security agencies patrols in the sub-county, where some operators have been hosting and serving customers contrary to the preventive measures announced by the government.
Operations of bars and clubs that sell alcohol have been banned in the country as a measure of containing the spread of the viral pandemic.
The administrator noted that traders who ignored the guidelines not only risked being charged in court but also having their trade operation licenses revoked.
He thanked the security personnel who comprise both the police, administration officers and “Nyumba kumi” operatives for their vigilance and patrols which have helped bring down the number of those contravening the guidelines.
The closure comes at a time when Machakos residents have been receiving warnings against dropping their guard towards the disease’s prevention.
Speaking on Friday last week, Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi reminded the residents that Covid-19 was a reality and urged them to adhere to all the prevention advice given by the government.
She stressed the importance of people putting on face masks among other measures, saying such acts reduced the possibility of contracting the virus by 80 percent.
A similar warning was sounded by the County Executive Committee member (CEC) for health Dr. Ancent Kituku who cautioned that though the numbers of confirmed case were going down, Kenyans should not be complacent lest they suffer similar consequences like some European countries that relaxed their guard thinking the disease was over only for it to bounce back and kill many.
Earlier, area CC Mr. Fredrick Ndunga decried the habit of some residents ignoring the preventive guidelines terming it as a joke.
According to Dr. Kituku, Machakos County has registered 1, 300 confirmed cases of the disease with some 48 dying. Currently, he added, only four Covid-19 patients were admitted in local health centers.
According to national statistics, Mavoko sub-county has been leading in the number of confirmed cases of the disease in the county and the closure of the clubs is but one measure towards containing the spread of the dreaded virus.
By Justus Keesi
