Let’s tame Covid-19 infections before it’s too late
Covid-19 infections continue to rise steadily even as Kenyans come to terms with the adverse effects of the pandemic that has ravaged their households for more than seven months.
The Health ministry has warned the country could face a second wave of coronavirus infections, just a month after lifting tough restrictions meant to limit its spread.
The country’s infection curve has taken a sharp turn, recording more than 4,500 new cases for the past one month, with the daily average nearing 400 compared to 164 in the week before September 30 when President Uhuru Kenyatta announced easing of containment measures.
But it is worrisome that amidst the increasing cases, people have lowered their guard and resorted to a carefree life, with politicians holding gatherings where wananchi have been turning up without masks.
Kenyans have thrown all caution into the wind. Social places have returned to normal while transport operators violate social distancing protocols with abandon.
One would expect that individuals and the two levels of government will be more vigilant and step up their preparedness levels.
And with the opening of schools, extra care must be taken to prevent and manage any upsurge.
There are already reports that some schools and prisons have been hit by the virus. Hospital beds in some counties such as Nakuru and Mombasa are full of Covid-19 patients.
That is why we are concerned with the haste and unwise decision by some county governments to dismantle facilities such isolation centres.
The move endangers the lives of the patients that it was intended to protect.
The Health ministry has also sounded the alarm that a number of counties are staring at a potential major crisis over a shortage of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds.
It is particularly regrettable that both the national and county governments have been setting aside cash for health facilities most of which end up in the pockets of unscrupulous public officials.
We strongly ask county governments that had dismantled facilities meant for the fight against Covid-19 to rethink their decision.
Cases can be cited across the world where countries lifted containment measures only to be forced to restore them after being hit by a second wave of the pandemic.
