The Ministry of Health on Saturday affirmed that the country so far has confirmed only one case of the coronavirus disease.
Ministry of Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, said that the patient is still continuing to receive care and treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) in a self-contained room.
Giving an update on the situation in the evening at KNH, Dr. Mwangangi said the patient was in a stable condition and cheerful.
Further, Dr. Mwangangi said that the ministry has traced 22 people who had close contact with the victim and they are being quarantined at the isolation unit at Mbagathi.
“Their specimen are currently being tested at KEMRI laboratories,” she added.
The ministry, she added, has traced and directed 23 other people of mixed nationalities who travelled on the same flight with the patient to undertake self-quarantine for 14 days.
‘’The Ministry’s rapid response team will follow them up on a daily basis until the 14 days are over. We want to thank the one case that we got for taking prompt action and seeking health advice. We wish Kenyans will follow her example,’’ Dr. Mwangangi said
The Ministry, the CAS said, together with the county team fumigated the apartment block in Rongai where the patient was a resident.
“We have also set up two counseling centers, one in KNH and another in Mbagathi and deployed counselors who are to take care of the quarantined patients and their families’, she said.
She explained that the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre has been fully activated to coordinate response efforts and a call centre set up to enhance communication on COVID-19.
“Members of the public can reach the call center by dialing 719 for audio messages or *719# for short messages and this will apply across all networks,’’ she said
The Ministry of Health in partnership with County Governments, Kenya Red Cross, AMREF, WHO, World Bank, KEPSA, UoN, Kenya Health Federation and other stakeholders has also engaged community health volunteers across the country to support awareness creation on COVID-19.
“The Ministry continues to maintain heightened surveillance at all points of entry, health facilities and communities across the country. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and to continue taking precautionary measures as advised,” she maintained.
Dr. Mwangangi also warned people posting videos on social media with fake information aimed at misinforming Kenyans and causing unnecessary panic to the public.
“We wish to inform the public not to consume information that has not come from official government communication channels (@MOH_Kenya and @SpokespersonGoK). The fake and alarming videos have been forwarded to Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for investigations, arrest and prosecution of such individuals,’’ she said.
Even as the government work towards curbing the coronavirus situation, World Health Organization (WHO) Friday said that globally 132,758 cases and 4955 deaths had been confirmed.
