By Joseph Eli Wahungu
The newly-sworn in Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Sunday said that Kenya now has capacity to test for the deadly coronavirus disease.
Speaking after the National Response on coronavirus held its first meeting, CS Kagwe said that the government will set up emergency centers in every county.
The CS also assured Kenyans that the Govt. will send Sh10 million to the students stuck in Wuhan city in China, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
But the CS revealed that the Govt is still consulting on whether to evacuate them following sustained pressure from families and the public.
The committee also okayed a national campaign to spread awareness on how to avoid coronavirus disease.
But CS Kagwe warned against discrimination of foreigners in Kenya, especially Chinese nationals who have subject to unkind remarks online.
The government also set up an emergency response unit that can be reached via: 0800721316, 0733353535 and 0729471414.
The CS revealed that Kenya is collaborating with the World Health Organization to ensure infected persons are quarantined at their exit points.
But the Health boss said the Govt didn’t need a court order to trace the 239 passengers who were allowed into the country after landing from China aboard China Southern Airlines.
CS Kagwe says govt didn’t need a court order to find the 239 passengerS who arrived from China.
Despite the criticism, CS Mutahi said the Govt will publish information on why self-quarantine is an effective measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease.