Kagwe: We’re probing claims governors lied about isolation beds
The government yesterday said it will probe claims that governors are inflating the number of isolation beds in their counties to avoid being put on the spot for failing to meet the 300-bed capacity directive.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in his daily briefing said he was not aware of such cases but said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations would probe the matter and those found culpable will be prosecuted.
He, however, maintained that there was still no evidence that some Governors borrowed beds from other hospitals to create the impression that they have achieved the minimum number of 300 isolation beds required in counties.
Preparedness status
“That there are some Governors essentially pretending they have bought beds and then take beds back once we have seen them, I am not aware of such a Governor.
We can be able to carry out thorough investigations and find out where exactly the beds were taken from, which hospitals and at what point they were taken back to the owners,” added Kagwe during a tour of Kericho to assess status of preparedness to deal with Covid-19 pandemic.
Kagwe said that just like any other Kenyan he would be keen to find out if something like that was going on.
“I would like to imagine that if something like that happens it would have been flagged,” he explained.
He made the remarks as Acting Health Director General, Dr Patrick Amoth spelt out three criteria that should be followed while getting back to work after a Covid-19 diagnosis.
Amoth said the first criterion is based on individual symptoms.
This applies to cases, where 10 days after onset of symptoms, a patient should neither be having fever nor using any medicine to reduce it such as Paracetamol or Brufen.
Similarly, if one had a cough or difficulty in breathing for about three days, Dr Amoth said those symptoms ought to have improved.
Prevention measures
“So if you have 10 days of a positive test and symptoms are improving you do not have a fever and not taking medicine to bring your temperature down then you are good to go back to work,” said Dr Amoth.
The second criteria, according to Amoth, is known as time-based and this applies to those who are asymptomatic.
But as people go back to work in both instances, Amoth said they should ensure they maintain the same infection prevention control measures including social distancing, frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers and wearing masks properly.
Aplastic anaemia
In the last 24 hours, 492 more people, including an 11-month infant have tested positive, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 26,928.
Three more patients succumbed to Covid-19, raising the toll to 423. One of those who lost their lives is a six-year-old child who had aplastic anaemia.
In the last 24 hours at least 534 have recovered, bringing the total to 13,485.
Nairobi had the highest number of new cases at 357, Kiambu had 37, Kajiado (14), Mchakos (10) Busia (5), Baringo, Embu, Mombasa and Murang’a had three cases each while Kilifi and Uasin Gishu had one case each.
