Kenya Takes Stronger Measures after Ranking 116th Country to Confirm a Coronavirus Case
Kenya today has announced its first confirmed coronavirus case making it the 116th country to confirm coronavirus case since last year. The virus which exploded in China’s Wuhan City in Hubei Province has claimed 4,600 lives with over 126,000 people infected globally out of whom 67,000 have recovered. This Kenyan case is the first confirmed case in East Africa since its outbreak in China in December last year.
Speaking to the Public today, the Ministry of Health through the public cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the patient is a Kenya national who travelled from Ohio in the United States via London on March 5, 2020. The 27 old year patient was diagnosed yesterday on the night of March 12, 2020. This makes the number of affected countries in Africa at least 12, Kenya being the latest addition and 116th globally.
Kenya’s coronavirus case patient is reportedly at the Kenya National Hospital’s Infectious Disease Unit and she will not be released until she is tested negative. The Government says it is going to trace all contacts the patient met since her arrival day. She is the patient’s temperature had returned to normal and she was stable and recovering in isolation, he said. He urged Kenyan’s to go on with their usual activities as they observe all the hygienic rules that help prevent coronavirus – COVID-19.
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New Measures Following the Kenya Coronavirus Case
- Consequently, it has suspended all travel outside the country unless necessary. Furthermore, the Kenyan authorities have suspended public gatherings in the country. All inter-school events and conferences have been canceled with immediate effect however the school programs will proceed.
- Kenya has also suspended prison visits for the next 30 days.
- Normal church services will continue but urged churches to provide hand sanitizers and announced the suspension of church crusades.
- The CS also directed the public transport providers to immediately start providing hand sanitizers for their passengers and carry out regular cleanings on their vehicles to curb the spread.
- CS Kagwe said all travels have been suspended more so to the affected countries to curb the spread.
- Kagwe directed county governments to begin concerted public education campaigns and cleaning exercises to deal with the virus.
Kagwe further urged Kenyans to be cautious not to misuse social media to spread misinformation about the disease or spread misinformation that can cause fear. He called for unity among Kenyans and urged everyone to take responsibility for dealing with the pandemic.
Appearing before both the Senate and the National Assembly health committees, Mr. Kagwe said a 300-bed ward has been set aside at the Kenyatta University Research and Referral Hospital. He also added that an 11-bed isolation unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital and a 120-bed ward at the Mbagathi Hospital have also been prepared.
Some drugs and therapies have been recommended by experts and some drugs found to have the potential to defeat the novel coronavirus (covid-19). They include Chloroquine phosphate, Tocilizumab, Convalescent plasma, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Coronavirus is fast gaining a footing in Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reporting its first Covid-19 case on Tuesday. Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister for Health Eteni Longondo confirmed on March 12 that the first positive case of coronavirus was a person of foreign nationality, who arrived from Belgium and who was checked on his arrival to the African country.
Countries so far affected in Africa include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia.
Most of the cases in Africa involve foreigners or citizens returning from Europe.
The spread of the virus into the continent has seen some African governments take drastic measures to keep the virus out of their borders. These moves are part of the government’s plan to improve preparedness through heightened surveillance.
Reported Cases in Africa
- Algeria — 20
- Burkina Faso — 2
- Cameroon — 2
- Democratic Republic of Congo –1
- Egypt — 59 (includes 1 death)
- Morocco — 3 (includes 1 death)
- Nigeria — 2
- Senegal — 4
- South Africa — 13
- Tunisia — 5
- Togo — 1
