Scores under surveillance in Nakuru over coronavirus

Some 25 people have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing observation for the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19) at various isolation facilities in Nakuru town.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr. Zachary Gichuki Kariuki confirmed that five of the people quarantined had recently travelled from South Africa and entered Kenya through Tanzania.
At same time, he announced that his department had tested 28 health workers who have been managing and treating Covid-19 victims with all of them turning negative.
Eight of those under quarantine and medical surveillance had attended burial of a person who had succumbed to complications arising out of Covid-19 in Nairobi.
Dr. Gichuki said movements of two others had been traced to Ongata Rongai in Nairobi before they were tracked to Nakuru.
The county executive said 10 others had been placed in self-contained rooms at the Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI) Isolation Center in Nakuru after coming into contact with people who later tested positive for Corona virus.
He called on persons who may have come into contact with the 15 to volunteer for medical observation at Covid-19 monitoring centres at various public health facilities in the county, while advising such persons to also self-quarantine for 14 days.
“The 10 are stable, cheerful and vibrant with normal vital signs. Samples collected from them are being tested at laboratories at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).
They will not be released from the Isolation Unit until they are confirmed negative,” said Dr. Gichuki
He said the devolved unit had stepped up surveillance, testing and management of the disease, adding that 2,043 long distance truck drivers from East African nations had been screened and tested for Covid-19.
“One of the truck drivers, a 34 year-old was referred for further medical analysis and management when he was found with high fever before being moved to an Isolation Ward at the Nakuru Level 5 hospital.
He said medical personnel will be monitoring the group for the next 14 days as they await results of their tests.
Dr. Gichuki urged Kenyans not to relent in the fight against the disease saying that personal responsibility was key to winning the battle against the disease.
By Jane Ngugi