This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
As the country continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, Machakos County has taken a bold step to prevent the spread of the virus. On June 20, 2020, the county closed eight markets in Kangundo and Mwala sub-county, a move aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
The decision was made after three Covid-19 patients were found to have visited the markets, posing a risk to residents. According to Titus Kavila, the Machakos County Decentralised Units CEC, the patients had used 'panya' routes to travel from Nairobi to their homes in Mitheu, where they visited markets, restaurants, and pubs, interacting with many people.
'One of the residents in Mitheu came from Nairobi using 'panya' routes and went to her home. For the two-three days the patient was there, they visited markets, going into restaurants and pubs and interacting with many,' Kavila explained.
The markets will remain closed for 14 days to allow fumigation, and residents are urged to be cautious and follow the government's directives. Kavila warned that those found culpable of violating containment measures will face the full force of the law.
Some of the markets closed include Ilinge, Mitheu, and Katheka in Mwala sub-county, while in Kangundo, Kithini market was closed. The move comes after a coronavirus patient was buried in Katheka Kai, prompting the closure of three markets in the area last week.
Kenya recorded 104 new Coronavirus cases on Saturday, June 20, 2020, from 2,280 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The country's new positive cases had risen to 4,478, and the number of samples tested to 136,361, according to Health CAS Rashid Aman.
36 individuals were discharged over the same period, bringing the total recoveries to 1,586. Unfortunately, two patients died, bringing the number of recorded fatalities to 121.
