The current number of positive Coronavirus patients in the country remains at seven with no new cases reported, says Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
Addressing the media at Afya House in Nairobi, CS Kagwe said more than 600,000 people who have come into the country through all entry points have been screened.
“We have tested 173 people, out of which seven are the ones who have turned out positive. The good news is that the seven are in stable condition and indeed today we began the test to see whether any of them might have turned negative” said the Health CS.
The ministry will start random screening in targeted areas for members of the public from Saturday 21st March, 2020.
“In the last 24 hours we have screened and tested another eight cases, all of which have turned negative and are being processed to be discharged to go home, we are however continuing with tests and contact tracing and we have already contacted 145 people who have come into contact with persons who have tested positive for the virus,” said CS Kagwe.
The CS reiterated on the need of the public to remain calm and stop spreading fake information regarding the virus.
“We have appealed to people to desist from any form of misinformation. Social media has been abuzz with all sorts of rumors, including; that we are locking down in Nairobi, that we are sending people home… other things that have come from nowhere, that we are deploying the military. You know this roumers must stop,” said the CS.
“But because we are aware that empty appeals will not work, we will proceed to arrest a number of them just to prove a point,” he added.
The CS said there was no need to panic as long as people did as directed by the government.
“This is a challenge we have. We have no doubt that if we behave well, we will avoid the kind of scenarios that we are seeing in other countries, but if we do not adhere, and if we do not follow what the government is appealing to do. I can also tell you that the results will also show,” he said.
