Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has warned of a possible 'explosion' of Covid-19 in the county through community infections.
Kwale is already labelled a coronavirus hotspot and passenger travel in and out of the county is prohibited in most cases.
Mvurya said on Friday the first community infection was reported at Kombani in Matuga where a truck driver from Mombasa tested positive for Covid-19 and later mingled with relatives and friends. He was taken to Msambweni Referral Hospital.
Other cases were identified on Thursday in Msambweni, also involving five truck drivers travelling between counties.
“The six new cases that we have recorded are all due to community infection,” Mvurya said.
The governor said despite quarantining primary and secondary contacts, there's a high possibility the disease might have spread to other people.
He cautioned residents to take required health measures, fearing once the spread gets out of control, Kwale will have a massive infection which will be hard to stop.
Mvurya was speaking at Mvindeni in Msambweni subcounty.
If the public is not more careful and vigilant, the county could have an outbreak as large as Mombasa's, he said.
“It is not a request, it is mandatory for each one of us to adhere to the government directives or else our lives will be jeopardised,” the governor said.
The county boss said the unnecessary movement of people along the border points likely spread the infection in communities.
Kwale had at least maintained its COVID-19 cases for the first one month the disease became known to the public.
By Saturday, 1,192 cases had been confirmed in Kenya.
Mvurya said truck drivers from Mombasa will be tested before being allowed to enter. Those entering Kenya from from Tanzania at Lunga-Lunga will also be tested, he said.
The county has bought more than 40, 000 face masks and 50 protective suits for health workers.
(Edited by V. Graham)
