This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On June 27, 2020, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua announced the closure of Shalom Hospital in Athi River to new patients and its conversion into a quarantine facility following reported cases of Covid-19.
The decision was made after the death of an unspecified number of patients at the hospital due to coronavirus, prompting the governor to take swift action.
According to the governor, the facility has been completely sealed off after a number of patients and a health worker tested positive for Covid-19.
"Other patients have also tested positive for Covid-19 and the fear is that they were infected at the hospital. A health worker has also tested positive," said Governor Mutua.
As a precautionary measure, the governor urged members of the public to seek health services in other facilities and assured them that the county government is working round the clock to ensure health facilities are safe.
"I urge all Wananchi to be patient as we ensure all health facilities are safe so as to avoid hospital-based infections as was the case in places like New York and several Italian cities," he said.
