Kakamega
By Andrew Ombuni
- Fourteen-seater matatu ordered to carry eight passengers
- Twenty seater buses to carry 15 people while 30 seater
- Buses with 30 seats and above to carry only 60 per cent capacity
- Bars to close at 7.30pm
- Shopping malls to operate 24 hours
- Three Kakamega Covid19 patients test negative
The government has ordered that 14- seater Matatu shall be carrying only eight passengers as a way of keeping social distance in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Four new patients have been taken into isolation at Mbagathi hospital, out of which, one has tested negative and the remaining three, and there results will be out tomorrow by 7.00am.
So far, 44 people have released from hospital after being in isolation for 14 days.
In Kenya, seven people tested positive and globally, 10,408 deaths have been reported with 253,960 people-testing positive of the deadly disease. At least 89,070 have since recovered from the virus.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has also directed that vehicles that have a capacity of carrying 25 passengers, will from today start carrying 15 people while 33-seater buses and above shall maintain its capacity at 60 per cent as well as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trains.
According to the Heath CS, the vehicles will have to be cleaned and disinfected after every trip and must provide customers with hand sanitisers before boarding.
“All entertainment areas (bars and night clubs) to be closed by 7.30pm effective March 23 (Monday). The management should ensure distance from one person to another is to be maintained at 1.5 square metres apart. Supermarkets and places with heavy traffic flow to limit the numbers of shoppers at their premises,” said Kagwe.
He said a queue management system must be put in place by the management and first priority given to expectant women, elderly persons and persons living with disabilities.
“Supermarkets will be open for 24 hours as the government will provide security. There will be frequent disinfection in the shopping malls. Hospitals to limit visitations. All travels to the county is now limited to Kenyans only must proceed to self-quarantine,” said Kagwe.
In addition, in Kakamega County, three patients who had been quarantined at the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral hospital who had exhibited covid19 symptoms have tested negative.
Doctors and nurses at the Kakamega County General Teaching and Referral Hospital fled from the casualty ward after a patient with coronavirus-like symptoms was brought to the facility on Wednesday.
The health workers said they feared contracting the highly contagious coronavirus disease because they do not have protective gear.
Governor Wycliffe Oparanya the three, are in stable condition but they shall still be quarantined for 14 days under close supervision.
He also said at least 5000 protective gears have been supplied to the county by the national government to help in fighting the virus.
Ends
