President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered a partial lockdown in five counties that have been listed as disease-infected counties. The counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kajiado, and Machakos that have in March been recording the highest numbers of covid-19 infections in the country will remain under stringent covid-19 containment measures.
“That fully conscious that 70% of Kenya’s reported cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the Counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, and Nakuru, those Counties are individually and collectively declared a disease infected area,” The President said.
Consequently, in his 15th state of covid-19 in the country address, the president ordered for Cessation of Movement into and out of the five counties, revision of Curfew hours 8.00 pm – 4.00 am in the above counties while other counties others remains the same. The president further ordered for suspension of church activities in the 5 counties, the operation of bars, and also the sale of alcohol in restaurants and eateries.
Positivity rate
President Kenyatta pointed out that the positivity rate in Kenya has constantly been rising since his last address on march 12th. As it stands today the positivity rate is settling at 22% and the death rate has risen from three people every day in January and February to seven dying every day in March, the highest since this pandemic hit the nation.
Further, the number of people being hospitalized in the last 13 days has increased by 52%. On March 12th, 4,990 Kenyans had been admitted, as of 26th, 7,630 Kenyans have been admitted into our hospitals for COVID-19. These figures have made the president publicly express his worries about the capacities being overwhelmed.
“This confirms the fact that a Third Wave of COVID-19 is at hand in Kenya. The positivity rate is at its highest since the pandemic hit us; the death rate is devastating by all measures, and the stress the pandemic is placing on our health system is unparalleled,” said the president.
According to health experts, the third wave of infections that’s currently ravaging the nation is expected to peak in the next 30 days, which could see between 2500 and 3000 infections every day.
The president further ordered for closure of all learning institutions with the expectation of candidates who are now sitting for their national examinations and medical students, suspension of all sporting activities, all public social gatherings, and limiting the number of hospital visitors to two persons per patient.
Vaccination.
Immediately after the address, President Kenyatta and first lady Margaret Kenyatta led a section of statehouse staff and a few cabinet members in taking publicly the covid-19 jab. He called on Kenyans above 58 years who are most susceptible to coronavirus to receive the jab.
“In view of the high morbidity and mortality rates among those who are above 50 years of age, those above 58 years of age shall be vaccinated as a priority during this 1 st vaccination phase,” he said.
Earlier, west media had exclusive access to the Kenyatta National Referral Hospital covid-19 vaccination center to assess the receivership of the jab. Contrary to the initial days when the AstraZeneca vaccine was launched two weeks ago, a considerable number of health workers and other staff of the hospital were on the queue for the vaccine.
According to WHO directives, after receiving the jab one is advised to have a few minutes rest before embarking on other activities. Many of the recipients who spoke to us of the record, rubbished claims of AstraZeneca side effects, many saying they didn’t feel anything unusual.
“ Am 61 years old and when the government included people of 58 years and above on the list of people to receive the vaccine, I decided to take it immediately. So far am not feeling anything strange and I believe am a bit protected from the virus,” said Mr. George Mungai who agreed to speak to us on record.
From the ministry of health statistics over 65,000 people have been vaccinated since the vaccine was officially launched in the country three weeks ago.
