This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
On May 14, 2020, Governor Lee Kinyanjui of Nakuru County announced that 44 individuals who had been in contact with a 13-year-old boy who tested positive for Covid-19 had been traced and all tested negative for the virus.
The affected persons, including the boy's relatives and medical personnel who attended to him, have been placed under medical observation and will be monitored by experts for the next two weeks.
Notably, Governor Kinyanjui clarified that not all cases announced by the Cabinet Secretary as having come from Nakuru were being treated in Nakuru. He explained that some patients were intercepted in the city and had therefore not been in contact with Nakuru residents.
Two persons who tested positive for Covid-19 at Isolation facilities in Nakuru a month ago were discharged a few weeks ago after recovering fully, while the 13-year-old who hails from Solai within Subukia Sub-County is under medical observation at the Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital. He is in a stable condition and is responding well to treatment, according to Governor Kinyanjui.
At the same time, the governor urged residents of areas frequented by long-distance truck drivers to remain vigilant and observe precautionary measures. He said the county was screening long-distance truck drivers at Barnabas, Kikopey, Total, and Salgaa areas after neighboring countries reported Covid-19 cases arising from long-distance truck drivers.
“We have tested 67 drivers at the facility who have all turned negative. Random screening of residents has also been enhanced in the town centre while residents who refuse to wear masks while in public are arrested,” Governor Kinyanjui stated.
Speaking when he flagged off the first consignment of 55,000 facemasks manufactured by County-run Technical Vocational Education Training Institutions, Governor Kinyanjui said the county required better preparedness because it is located on a transit corridor.
He said the TVETS had undertaken to produce the consignment weekly to be distributed free of charge within all the 55 wards within the 11 sub-counties of the devolved unit.
County Assembly Speaker Joel Maina Kairu said Coronavirus has negatively altered the social and economic lifestyle patterns of Kenyans. “We must support National and County governments’ efforts to curb the spread of this pandemic. Kenyans need to be wary that the numbers are rising steadily and may cause economic collapse if not controlled,” said Mr. Kairu.
