Only 40 out of 12,000 samples taken in Busia tested positive for the coronavirus.
Busia Universal Health Coverage director Dr David Mukabi said the rate of community spread is still low.
Mukabi told the Star the county can contain the virus’ spread if residents comply with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to limit infections.
By Saturday, Busia had the fifth highest number of positive cases in the country after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu and Kajiado. The county had 677 cases on Saturday.
“Right now we are not testing everybody. We are just doing targeted testing depending on the available test kits so that we get to know the extent to which the community is affected,” Mukabi said.
The 40 positive cases are spread across the seven subcounties, Mukabi said.
He said the patients are receiving treatment at the Alupe Hospital and Agricultural Training Centre.
Some 637 of the county's 677 cases were truck drivers and other travellers passing through the county.
Mukabi said people who visit health facilities to seek for treatment will be tested for the virus.
He, however, said the tests will be done on a voluntary basis. Patients who decline to carry out the Covid-19 test will not be forced to do so, he said.
“The government has recommended no testing for people who have no symptoms because it is turning out to be a very expensive issue. At the end of it all, those who don’t have symptoms even if they are positive they don’t really require any specific treatment,” he said.
Last week, the county said it anticipated a sharp increase in the number of new infections.
The Governor Sospeter Ojaamong-led administration has since prepared a budget for buying 124 more beds to accommodate more patients.
“Testing has been conducted in sampled places where healthcare workers are tested and a few people from the community,” he said.
He added, “We don’t have the capacity to test everybody. But if you get 40 out of 12,000 samples, then it’s not so bad and this means if we continue with the guidelines, then we will be safe.
He said no healthcare worker has so far tested positive for the virus.
