Nyandarua puts in place measures to deal with Covid-19

The Nyandarua county government has announced a raft of measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Among the measures is the establishment of a county response team. The team will be meeting weekly to review the situation.

Subcounty emergency response teams have also been set up. They will be meeting daily before briefing the county response team.

Further, a 24-hour emergency call centre has been set up at J M Memorial Hospital boardroom. It will be manned by trained personnel and the hotline is 0793-379-039.

Governor Francis Kimemia on Wednesday said the County Emergency Committee on Coronavirus is satisfied with their level of preparedness.

He spoke after chairing the team's meeting at J M Memorial Hospital to review the measures and progress made in Nyandarua county's preparedness.

He said the county government had committed Sh10 million from the Emergency Fund to procure personal protective equipment and detergents.   

Kimemia said all travel by county staff outside the country have been suspended, as well as training and workshops.

He directed the county secretary and head of public service to develop a framework to decongest offices by allowing some staff members to take leave.

The governor has also discouraged residents from visiting county offices, saying they should seek other communication avenues that limit personal contact. He said the provision of critical and essential services will, however, continue uninterrupted.

The county has also established four isolation wards in four health facilities with a combined capacity of 42 beds.

J M Memorial Hospital in Ol Kalou has an isolation centre with eight beds, while the isolation centre at Engineer County Referral Hospital in Kinangop has six beds.

Other centres are North Kinangop Mission Hospital with eight beds and Ndemi Health Centre in Kipipiri subcounty which has 20 beds.

The Nyandarua county boss said 371 health officers had been trained to handle suspected cases of coronavirus.

He said a laboratory specialist and a doctor trained on viral testing on on stand-by to carry out tests.

Kimemia has also ordered the closure of all night clubs. Bars and drinking joints will only be allowed to operate up to 11pm.

Workshops and seminars, other than extremely essential ones, have also been suspended.

Recreation parks, gyms, swimming pools and other health fitness centres, he said, have been closed for 30 days. 

Cleaning and fumigation will be done in all markets.  

Kimemia said family and funeral gatherings should be restricted to close family members. Families are encouraged to bury their dead within three days.

Edited by A. Ndung'u