This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, Kakamega County is preparing for a potential spike in cases, with Governor Wycliffe Oparanya announcing the identification of two parcels of land for burial grounds of COVID-19 victims.
According to Oparanya, the county expects cases to peak in September, and as a government, they must plan for the worst scenario. He noted that transferring the dead to their homes might be a luxury if the situation worsens, as seen in America where hordes of people die in a day.
The county government has set up two isolation centers at Mumias West General Hospital and Likuyani Level Four Hospitals, but the county has yet to attain the minimum isolation bed capacity of 300 and has not yet been sanctioned to carry out COVID-19 testing. Additionally, the county only has six ICU beds.
Oparanya made the remarks during the swearing-in ceremony for three chief officers, including James Ochami, Dominic Muteshi, and Catherine Gathoni. He urged those returning from the city to quarantine themselves for at least 14 days before mingling with the village.
The county is also building an isolation ward on the top floor of the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
