A multi-agency team has been formed in Murang’a to help in cracking down on those flouting Covid-19 Ministry of Health directives. The team composed of officers from the county government and departments under the national government is expected to start working from Monday after structures are put in place.
Mr. Joseph Mbai the county health officer on Wednesday led a fumigating exercise that included markets.The team will specifically focus on eateries, bars and public service vehicles, which are notorious in flouting the regulations.
Mbai observed that defying to observe given guidelines have occasioned an increase of Covid-19 cases with the county recording 19 new infections on Wednesday.
He noted that Murang’a Level-5 and Muriranjas hospitals are currently holding patients of covid-19.
In the Level-5, two patients are in ICU, with Mbai explaining that their conditions are improving.
At Muriranjas there are 11 patients and Kaharo isolation centre in Maragua there is one health worker recovering after he contracted the disease in the course of duty.
Mbai spoke at Kenol Market in Murang’a south during fumigation of the market with the county government eying to fumigate 144 trading centres.
“There is a schedule prepared by the department of public health to ensure the centres in the sub counties will benefit from the fumigation programme,” he remarked.
Mbai stated that PSV crew will be under surveillance after investigations revealed gross flouting of the regulations imposed.
“Apart from the 17 patients admitted in hospitals, there are another 65 placed under home-based care. So far the county has reported 11 deaths occasioned by coronavirus”, added the Executive Member.
Since the first case of the Covid-19 was reported in the country, there is an accumulative figure of 386 patients in Murang’a County.
Mbai said the county is set to handle Covid-19 cases, as it has an equipped Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 35 beds, and an isolation centre as ordered by the Ministry of Health in August.
“Nobody will be spared in the crackdown as the team will be working in partnership with security officers to help stop the spread of Covid 19,” he stressed.
At the same time, a board member with Murang’a Municipality in charge of Public Health Mr. Alex Karanja ordered the business people to place hand washing points outside their premises.
“We have noted that the majority of the traders withdrew the hand washing tanks, the few in place lack water and soap,” said Karanja.
By Bernard Munyao
