This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
Published on August 4, 2020, Kiambu County has been grappling with a surge in Covid-19 cases, with over 1,400 cases recorded as of last week.
The county's proximity to Nairobi, the epicenter of the Coronavirus, and the ongoing mass testing exercise have also contributed to the rapid spread of the virus.
Residents have been accused of ignoring containment measures, including the wearing of masks, with many not adhering to the guidelines.
According to data from the county's public Health Department, 81 patients have succumbed to the deadly virus, with an increasing number of mortality cases being recorded.
Health experts and Governor James Nyoro expressed concerns over the residents' attitude, stating that they have adopted a 'business as usual' approach, disregarding the measures put in place to halt the spread of the virus.
Speaking separately, Nyoro said, 'You have to recognise that we have been testing quite a number of cases. Some of these figures belong to Kiambu people who live outside the county. We expect the numbers to rise because the national figures are also rising.'
He added that the county is prepared for an eventuality, having installed a 230-bed capacity at Tigoni Hospital and purchased enough ventilators for the county's main Covid-19 treatment centre.
Health experts believe that the residents' general drop in complying with infection prevention control measures has contributed to the spike in cases.
Dr Moses Mwangi, a virologist, also the former chairman of Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry, said that better healthcare infrastructure of a county indicates that more people are likely to respond to health authorities' directives.
