Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has urged those involved in the business sector not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic and start charging high prices for goods and services. This comes after the first Coronavirus case was confirmed in Kenya by the government. The patient jetted back to Kenya on March 5th and the positive test result was confirmed on Thursday 15th. “For those in the business sector, there will be a shortage of certain items…we are urging you please, this is not the time to start making abnormal profits by charging abnormal prices for medicines and for goods and services. It is immoral, it will be immoral for anybody to take advantage of a situation like this one,” said CS Kagwe.
Speaking to the press on Friday, the CS said all public gatherings have been suspended, and all visits to prisons have also been suspended for 30 days. Travel restrictions have also been placed and about 13 countries considered high risk have been listed and are under a daily review. The Health CS has further urged those in the business and private sector to play their part in containing any possible spread, saying it’s a collective responsibility. He said businesses may provide hand washing points, and thermo scanners in offices so that when people walk in their temperature can be checked.
Isolation wards are set to be launched in the Level five and level four hospitals countrywide and according to CS Kagwe, there is sufficient funding support from the national government and the World Bank to ensure everything goes on well in the various hospitals and also gear for workers and ambulances are ready.
On his part, Transport CS James Macharia said they had a meeting with the Matatu associations where the effects of a possible Coronavirus case were discussed, adding that they agreed that they’ll comply with all that the government had agreed. “Teams from the Health Ministry will start conducting training on various bus stops starting from 10 am in the morning to 4 pm in the afternoon,” said the CS.