This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On June 27, 2020, Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua announced the closure of Shalom Hospital in Athi River following a COVID-19 outbreak.
According to Dr. Mutua, several patients at the hospital had already succumbed to the disease, while other inpatients and at least one health worker had tested positive for COVID-19.
The decision to seal off the hospital was made after consultations with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and the Ministry of Health Director General.
"The hospital is now a quarantine facility and therefore no one is allowed to get in or leave the hospital," Dr. Mutua stated.
He added that the process of screening and testing for COVID-19 may take several days and has already started, with further decisions to be made according to the evaluation of relevant agencies involved in healthcare and COVID-19 combat.
Dr. Mutua urged citizens to be patient as the county ensures all health facilities are safe to avoid hospital-based infections, citing examples from New York and Italian cities.
