Kisii county authorities have ordered the immediate closure of all markets as part of the steps to contain spread of Covid-19.
The county's main open-air market is Daraja Mbili, which hosts more than 10,000 traders on Thursdays and Mondays.
Traders from other regions visiting the markets will not be allowed as the county government moved to upscale its surveillance against the virus, health officials said Tuesday.
No infection case had been reported in Kisii but even bars and nightclubs in the county capital were told to limit their operating hours.
They will open at 5pm and close at 11pm, county health executive Sarah Omache said.
"We are doing this as a measure to stop further movement to check any possibility of the virus spreading," she said during a briefing in the governor's office.
She said the county had already set aside a 40-bed wing at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital as part of emergency preparedness.
Two nurses have since been dispatched for training in Nairobi on handling the coronavirus cases.
The nurses will return to train more others, Omache stated. Governor James Ongwae has already formed a 19-person team to monitor and coordinate emergency response to the virus.
Omache said nothing would be left to chance in the efforts to stop the virus."Systems are ready. We, however, still advise our people to observe primary hygiene, wash their hands and stop hand greetings," said Omache.
She further asked the residents to avoid places with large gatherings especially bars and churches. Kisii Central MCA Kepha Mogaka supported the closure of markets.
He, however, called on students spreading fake news that sex can stem the spread of the virus to desist.
"Let people observe the rules and directives the government has given. Let nobody spread fake news to confuse our people," he said.
Edited by Henry Makori
