Eleven patients with Covid-19 related complications are currently admitted at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Murang’a Level -5 hospital.
Eight others have been put in isolation at the Unit as they await results to establish if they have contracted coronavirus.
Murang’a County Executive Member for health and sanitation Joseph Mbai said that some of the admitted patients at the ICU are from neighbouring counties saying the facility which has a 35-bed capacity, has some spaces to handle more patients.
He decried the surge of Covid-19 cases saying majority of area residents have abandoned adherence to ministry of health protocols aimed to control spread of coronavirus.
The CEC observed that in almost every shopping centre within the county, people are interacting freely without observing social distance and wearing face masks.
“People relaxed from observing Covid-19 measures that’s why we are witnessing increases of coronavirus cases. The disease has killed many people and this should be a wakeup call for every person to take necessary measures,” added Mbai when he spoke to KNA at his office on Wednesday.
He said the county department of health has formed a surveillance team which will embark in publicising the need to adhere to covid-19 protocols.
“We have a team in place which will go around informing people to follow stipulated protocols in effort to curb spread of the virus. The third wave is very dangerous and has put many lives at risk. Services at most medical facilities stretched and it’s becoming hard to get equipment needed to manage Covid-19 patients,” Mbai further explained.
Meanwhile, Mbai revealed about 1, 000 people have taken the Covid-19 jab in the county saying the process is slow and locals are avoiding the vaccination.
“Not even all health workers have been vaccinated for Covid-19. In Murang’a there are about 2, 500 health workers and in the vaccination exercise, priority was given to all those who work in medical facilities. Some residents came for the vaccine,” he added.
The county was initially given 3, 000 doses of the Covid-19 which was supposed to be administered to frontline health workers before other members of the public were allowed to get the jab.
Mbai appealed to people to get the vaccine saying it has been proved safe saying many countries are administering AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine.
By Bernard Munyao
