West Pokot health workers have been recalled from leave to deal with the coronavirus threat.
“All health workers should be on duty and will be provided with protective health gears to ensure their safety," Governor John Lonyangapuo said.
“We want to minimise crowds and for the next 30 days, we shall not be having open-air and livestock markets. No hawking will take place in urban centres for the same period,” he said.
The governor has ordered the closure of nightclubs and asked hotels to maintain high standards of hygiene and avoid overcrowding.
He asked all county staff to work from home, except those working in critical departments such as water, health and finance.
The governor has also suspended harambees, weddings, big funerals and cultural activities.
“We encourage funeral attendance to be limited to close family members and relatives,” he said.
Over the weekend, Lonyangapuo inspected Kapenguria County Referral Hospital and set aside a 20-bed ward for Covid-19 patients.
“The 20-bed amenity ward will handle low-risk cases of Covid-19 while the isolation unit with 10 rooms will be used for high-risk cases,” he said.
Handwashing facilities have been provided at all entry points of all county offices.
Signs of coronavirus are fever, dry coughing, shortness of breath and body aches.
The governor called on residents not to panic but observe preventive measures.
(Edited by V. Graham)
