Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has asked hospitals to hire 1,000 more health workers in the next seven days.
This is to allow them to prepare to fight the novel coronavirus, which has so far reached 110 confirmed cases.
"..Prepare yourselves...about 6,000 health workers in total will help in the fight against coronavirus," Kagwe said on Thursday.
Kagwe said the government is taking the disease seriously and is not taking any chances.
"...we take this matter seriously.. I ask the media, please please, through you this matter can be taken seriously..if they joke about it they will pay a high price," he said.
During the briefing, Kagwe announced the death of two more Covid-19 patients.
This brings the total to three deaths. The first death was announced on March 26.
Kagwe said 29 more people have tested positive. Twenty-eight are Kenyans and one is Congolese. This brings the number to 110, up from 81 cases.
In March, Kagwe said at least 1,000 medics will be hired to handle the rising number of coronavirus infection.
The new medics include nurses, clinical officers, lab technologists and doctors, among others.
Kagwe said they will also increase the number of makeshift Intensive Care Unit beds by about 1,000.
