The Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance system at all points of entry, health facilities and communities across the country to ensure there is no importation of COVID-19 into the country.
The Ministry Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr. Rashid Aman confirmed today that the Ministry surveillance system, has been able to pick 17 alerts and all have tested negative for the disease.
In addition the Ag. Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth said the Government has developed a national contingency plan to guide implementation of priority preparedness in view of the threat posed by importation of COVID-19 into Kenya.
“Mandatory screening is ongoing in all points of entry to minimize the risk of importation of the virus from affected countries and so far a total of 320,123 travellers have been screened across various points of entry since January 20th 2020,”he noted.
Over 615 health workers at the points of entry have also been sensitized on how to deal with suspected cases and additional workers have been deployed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Other measures in the place include Isolation facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi District Hospital to increase isolation capacity.
The CAS also advised the members of the public to remain vigilant as the risk is still high and to continue taking precautionary measures by maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene, safe food practices and avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
So far 762 deaths have been reported in China and 37 other countries.
