This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
Published on July 1, 2020, Athi River Shalom Hospital has been cleared to resume normal operations after a COVID-19 outbreak.
Following a report issued to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council (KMPDC) and the Machakos County Government on Monday, the hospital's management has been directed to ensure fumigation and disinfection of the entire facility prior to resumption of operations.
According to Dr. Daniel Yumbya, CEO of KMPDC, the hospital's management should also ensure the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for health workers.
Additionally, KMPDC ordered the Director of Health in Machakos County Government to ensure all health workers who tested positive for COVID-19 are quarantined in a special ward within the facility, in line with the ministry's guidelines.
Some patients who tested positive in the facility have since been transferred to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital.
Dr. Yumbya also directed all security officers deployed at the facility to vacate the premises, while over 100 patients who had been admitted for various illnesses were allowed to proceed for 14-day self-quarantine.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua had previously blamed the facility's management for allowing health care workers to operate without PPEs while dealing with suspected COVID-19 cases.
