The Kilifi County Emergency Covid-19 Steering Committee has renewed its calls for strictly adherence to the ministry of health covid-19 protocols in order to reduce infections in the county. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
Among the recommendations during the meeting is that no member of the public should be served in any public office if he or she is not wearing a mask.
The committee which met under the chairmanship of Governor Amason Kingi and County Commissioner Kutswa Olaka at the Governor s office garden said strictly measures should be taken to all those flouting the covid-19 protocols, including those not wearing mask and also those not washing their hands.
Kilifi health executive member Charles Dadu while briefing the committee said there has been a very low uptake on the Covid-19 vaccines, a move he said was prohibiting efforts by the government to have people vaccinated against the virus.
“Last week we received 4,500 Jabs of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Ministry of Health but its uptake is still too low because at the moment, only 7 per cent of the entire Kilifi population has been vaccinated,” said Dadu.
Mr Dadu attributed this to poor social media campaign that has been peddling a lot of lies and misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine.
“The major problem for this low uptake is first, the bad campaign on the internet over the effects of the vaccine that has scared many people from going for the jab. However, we are going to run several sensitization campaigns to have people get the vaccine in the entire county,” said Mr Dadu.
Governor Kingi ordered all markets to have waterpoints and sanitizers in strategic areas for use and warned of market closures should this be ignored.
“I want all markets to have water points for people to wash their hands and also sanitize. If any of these regulations will not be adhered to, then we shall be forced to close such utilities. Let the market committees understand this and take it with the much-needed seriousness,” said Governor Kingi.
Governor Kingi also announced that the Mtwapa market will be opened next week to cushion traders who have been crowded in one area near Mtwapa town.
“We also want to decongest the traders at Mtwapa town and so next week, we shall open up the new Mtwapa Market so that we can transfer the traders to the new market so as to reduce congestion.
Both the Governor and Mr Olaka agreed that every Kenyan seeking services in a public office must only be served if he or she is wearing a mask as a mitigation measure to reduce the rate of infections.
“We are also going to renew our crackdown on overloading matatus and also arrest all those in the public who are not wearing masks. We must work together in this to make sure that we flatten the curve,” said Olaka.
The committee also resolved that no political gatherings with an attendance of more than 100 people shall be tolerated,
“We can only have a political consultative meeting of not more than 100 people. More than that, such is illegal and will not be tolerated,” said Governor Kingi.
