A multi-agency team to ensure all key players strictly adhere to ministry of health Covid-19 containment measures will soon be rolled out in Uasin Gishu County.
The Covid-19 Rapid Response Team resolved during a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno and County Commissioner Stephen Kihara that the multi-agency approach was crucial in stemming the rising cases of Covid-19 in the county.
Speaking after the meeting on Friday, Chemno singled out the matatu industry, the boda boda riders, hotels, bars and supermarkets as key sectors that have been identified as the weakest link in efforts to curb further spread of the pandemic in the area.
The deputy governor said the county had to date recorded over 4,234 infections, besides unknown numbers that may be occurring in the villages.
He pointed out that the third wave of Covid-19 that the country is currently battling was more lethal as the virus has exhibited symptoms that are totally different from what was originally recorded.
Chemno called on the residents to always seek medical advice whenever they have any health issues and avoid self-medication which might end up being life-threatening.
“The third wave of the pandemic is not displaying the original symptoms. The symptoms are totally different. Some are wrongly treating malaria, stomach and other challenges not related to Covid-19. Some are self-medicating thinking they are treating common ailments only to realize too late they have contracted Covid-19,” he said.
The deputy governor urged matatu operators, church leaders, bars and restaurant owners to ensure strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols.
“We are mapping out areas that we are witnessing challenges in implementing these protocols and we shall roll out a multi-disciplinary team to ensure those loopholes are sealed,” he said.
On his part, the County Commissioner assured that the security team will work hand in hand with the local administration to fully enforce resolutions reached by the Covid-19 County Response Team.
“We assure our commitment as security players to work harder than before to ensure what we’ve agreed is fully implemented. We’re also going further to involve chiefs and village elders at the grassroots to help in ensuring the proposals are followed to the letter,” said Kihara.
Earlier the county executive for health Dr. Everlyne Rotich had warned that the county faced a possible lockdown following high infection rates being reported in the last two weeks.
Dr. Rotich faulted the ‘don’t care’ attitude displayed by residents who were blatantly flouting the ministry of health guidelines.
There is a lot of crowding in churches, matatus, bars, and restaurants that is fuelling the high rate of infections in the county, said the health executive.
She said the county was recording more than 60 infections daily with many residents defying Ministry of Health control protocols with reckless abandon.
“Unless the residents adhere to the protocols, the county risks being put on lockdown to flatten the curve,” warned Dr. Rotich.
by Kiptanui Cherono
