County governments have put in place measures to deal with a possible Covid-19 outbreak in Kenya according to COG chair and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya. County emergency response committee have been set up in all the 47 Counties to deal with the coronavirus threat, with the committees made up of health, finance, public works, education CECs, Governors and County Commissioners. Speaking to the press on the preparedness of the Covid-19 spread, Oparanya said all Counties have set aside budgets and plans to deal with any arising issue. He also added that emergency operation centres have been activated.
The coronavirus has spread in different countries globally, with 100 cases confirmed in Africa and one death in Egypt. The disease has caused turmoil in the business sector, tourism and sports among others. So far, no case has been reported in Kenya and the neighboring East African countries. “To date, the County governments continue to enhance their capacity and preparedness for the disease,” said Oparanya during the press briefing. Oparanya said 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment have been procured in the counties for the healthcare workers. “The 14 Counties categorized as high risk received 10,000 PPE kits each,” he said.
He further assured Kenyans that there is no cause for alarm and preventive measures have been put in place, “We urge all members of the public to remain vigilant as the risk is till high and to continue taking precautionary measures such as maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene, safe food handling practices and avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections,” he noted.