Kajiado County Corona Virus Update
From Kajiado.go.ke
Human traffic to and from Tanzanian continues to pose a challenge to efforts instituted by the County Government in combating the spread of the COVID-19. According to the County Department of Health, foreigners constitute a bulk of the quarantined cases at isolation facilities at the border entry points with screening done by health workers at Namanga indicating that 84% originated from Tanzania, 16% from Zambia while a notable number were from Kenya, Malawi and Namibia. Drivers and Traders who frequently cross the border have been identified as the highest risk groups. 10 Kenyans are currently being detained and quarantined at the border health facility awaiting testing and further determination.
Esther Somoire, Health CEC said so far 119 suspected cases have been reported in Kajiado with zero deaths recorded. This figure includes those at the border points. 104 patients have so far been tested in the County with 15 of them cleared after initial screening showed they did not exhibit any Corona related symptoms.
She maintained that Kajiado is still a high risk County due to its geographical proximity to the capital city Nairobi and as an international gateway through Tanzania to other countries adding that her Department together with the County Security Team has already instituted stringent measures to limit cross border movement including monitoring adherence to social distancing norms and use of personal protective, equipment, PPE specifically face masks. These measures will include activation of door to door screenings of suspected COVID-19 cases and mandatory quarantine for those flouting curfew directives. Plans are also underway to close down Shompole Market and others within the County deemed as risk zones for community transmission.
She advised members of the public to adhere to basic sanitation norms of washing hands with soap, or use of hand sanitizer and social distancing as a way of breaking the transmission gap in the community.
Meanwhile, the third Corona Virus patient from Ngong, Matasia continues to receive medical care at the Kenyatta University Hospital. 32 persons that she had come into contact with are still quarantined in an Isolation center in Ngong. Thirteen of them are awaiting test results.
The County leadership led by H.E. Joseph Lenku has also asked all residents to observe calls for social distancing as a measure in breaking the gap in the spread of the pandemic. This is while the County government steps up distribution of personal protective equipment, PPEs hand sanitizers and other COVID-19 response commodities.
