This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
As of May 8, 2020, Kenya's healthcare system is facing a new challenge: the spread of Covid-19 among its frontline workers. According to Health Director General Patrick Amoth, 34 out of 621 healthcare workers have tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Amoth revealed this information during a Friday update on the Covid-19 situation at Afya House. He attributed the infections to either direct or indirect contact with the virus, citing the example of a doctor who visited a friend who was Covid-19 positive.
Healthcare workers now make up about 5.5 percent of the total number of coronavirus patients in the country, Dr. Amoth noted. Despite the risk, he praised the dedication of healthcare workers, saying, “Even if some have tested positive, we have not had a death of a healthcare worker.”
Dr. Amoth also highlighted the efforts of the government to support healthcare workers, including providing welfare packages for those staying in hotels.
