This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
As of June 8, 2020, COVID-19 is ranked as the third most serious illness globally, after ischaemic heart disease and stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, in Kenya, where the virus has been present for only three months, the incidence may not be entirely accurate.
Despite the daily announcements of new cases, the prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 in Kenya are relatively low. In fact, the country has faced worse pandemics in the past and has emerged stronger without the current level of dramatization.
The mortality rate of COVID-19 globally is around 5%, but in Kenya, it is a mere 0.12%. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including differences in testing rates, demographics, and the characteristics of the healthcare system.
Kenya is plagued by more pressing health issues, including typhoid, cholera, malaria, rabies, hepatitis, HIV, and tuberculosis. These diseases are often linked to poor hygiene and sanitation, which are symptoms of the country's deep-seated poverty and wretchedness.
The current curfew, intended to combat COVID-19, is only 40% effective and primarily affects the poor, who are already struggling to make ends meet. Slowing the economy can have far-reaching consequences, including massive job losses and abrupt changes in lifestyle, which can trigger chaos.
As the author notes, quoting chaos theory, 'When systems become dislodged from a stable state, they go through a period of oscillation, swinging back and forth between order and chaos.' It is time to stop restrictions and return to normal life, observing basic hygiene best practices instead.
