This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
As the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has opened talks with health workers to avert a looming strike. The negotiations come after health workers threatened to down their tools next week unless their demands for a better allowance package and protective measures were met.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi led the talks, stating that healthcare workers are the 'heartbeat of this response.' She emphasized the need to evaluate their concerns and find a middle ground to move forward.
Dr. Mwangangi noted that the porosity of the borders poses the greatest challenge in the war on Covid-19, citing recent statistics of fresh infections in the country. She assured that the National Emergency Response Committee is monitoring the situation closely and would take necessary measures as the situation dictates.
Regarding the recent cases, Dr. Mwangangi stated that out of the 1,486 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 21 people have tested positive, bringing the total number in the country to 758. The youngest case is 7 years old, and the oldest is 79 years old, with 14 males and 7 females among the positive cases.
Four of the positive cases are truck drivers who were tested at the Namanga border, while eight individuals who are truck drivers from Tanzania also tested positive and were referred back to Tanzania. The distribution of the positive cases is as follows: 12 cases from Mombasa, 4 from Kajiado, 4 from Nairobi, and 1 from Uasin Gishu.
Today, the government has discharged 3 people from hospital, bringing a total of 284 recoveries from Covid-19. Two patients, both from Nairobi County, have also lost their lives, bringing the total number of those who have succumbed to the disease to 42.
Health Ag. Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth stated that the Covid-19 virus is likely to be endemic going forward and that the country will have to adapt to living with the virus by continuing with simple measures that have been put in place.
On the issue of lifting restrictions, Dr. Amoth emphasized that this will have to be gradual, based on science and information received from colleagues who have been doing modeling. He stated that the quarantine facilities in government continue to be free and are being implemented to the letter.
During the press briefing, World Vision donated 11,416 PPEs worth over Ksh 50 million to the Covid emergency response committee.
