Lamu governor Fahim Yasin Twaha has issued a stern warning against the public against violent acts on people who are suspected to be having COVID-19 or those that have travelled from places that have the pandemic.
The warning was issued out during a presser in Mokowe,where the governor noted that anyone suspected to have signs close to those of covid-19, are facing stigmatization pointing out the two incidents or cases witnessed within the past two months, adding that their relatives are never spared.
He made these remarks earlier on Friday during a press briefing in the county’s Mokowe headquarters over the status update on the county’s preparedness with regards to managing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the county.
He revealed that although the two patients had exhibited presumed Corona Virus symptoms while being admitted at the Mpeketoni Sub County District Hospital it was too early to tell whether they are a risk to the community.
“Presumptions have led to rumours of a possible COVID-19 outbreak which is not the case and residents should be careful not to fall under the trap of stigmatising those seeking treatment for similar symptoms, which could just be TB or pneumonia,” Twaha stated.
Flanked by Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu and the COVID-19 Management Committee the governor further revealed that the samples of the two patients had been taken and dispatched to KEMRI Laboratories with results expected within 24 hours.
“The two patients have already been isolated and contact tracing is already underway to know their travel history,” the governor said.
He advised the public to call the hotline numbers that county public health had provided to enable trained public health officials handle such suspects instead of people taking the law in their hands.
Twaha also stated that it was also very important for people to understand that anyone could get infected and urged residents to adhere to Ministry of Health preventive guidelines.
There have so far been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Lamu,since the outbreak of the global pandemic within the country last month.
He also reiterated that the county government’s health facilities have designated isolation facilities that will help in case of an outbreak.
The governor was however optimistic that the measures put in place by the county government were sufficient to tackle the spread of the virus in case of an outbreak.
He also commended the Lamu County Assembly for reallocating Kshs 50 million from their internal budget to aid the county manage the crisis.
The county government has so far set aside Kshs 10 million to aid establishing an emergency fund for the county.
“The county is in talks with suppliers to bring in as many ventilators as possible in case of an outbreak, and we will also embark on a massive sanitiser distribution programme in a bid to keep the virus at bay,We are also organising how relief food will be distributed across vulnerable families across the county, in the wake of reduced revenue streams in more than 60 percent of homes within the county,” he added.
He further said that TVETs in Lamu were so far engaged in making as many as 4,000 masks which will be distributed for free across the county as they were now too expensive to buy from any supplier.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu who urged well-wishers to coordinate with the COVID-19 county management team to distribute relief items rather than embark on solitary missions.
“We will not entertain individuals distributing relief items outside the designated programme, in a bid to win political points, and urge that all relief should be steered towards this committee who will then channel it to the public,” Macharia said.
He also urged members of the public to adhere to the curfew regulations to avoid colluding with law enforcement agencies whom he said are only keen to ensure the safety of Kenyans per the MOH regulations provided.
"we have heard cases of brutality, let lamu residents understand that the curfew regulations put in place apply for all in the country, just like the other curfews that have been posed due to insecurity, residents should observe them not to cross with the security enforcers"said Macharia.
ENDS…….
The warning was issued out during a presser in Mokowe,where the governor noted that anyone suspected to have signs close to those of covid-19, are facing stigmatization pointing out the two incidents or cases witnessed within the past two months, adding that their relatives are never spared.
He made these remarks earlier on Friday during a press briefing in the county’s Mokowe headquarters over the status update on the county’s preparedness with regards to managing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the county.
He revealed that although the two patients had exhibited presumed Corona Virus symptoms while being admitted at the Mpeketoni Sub County District Hospital it was too early to tell whether they are a risk to the community.
“Presumptions have led to rumours of a possible COVID-19 outbreak which is not the case and residents should be careful not to fall under the trap of stigmatising those seeking treatment for similar symptoms, which could just be TB or pneumonia,” Twaha stated.
Flanked by Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu and the COVID-19 Management Committee the governor further revealed that the samples of the two patients had been taken and dispatched to KEMRI Laboratories with results expected within 24 hours.
“The two patients have already been isolated and contact tracing is already underway to know their travel history,” the governor said.
He advised the public to call the hotline numbers that county public health had provided to enable trained public health officials handle such suspects instead of people taking the law in their hands.
Twaha also stated that it was also very important for people to understand that anyone could get infected and urged residents to adhere to Ministry of Health preventive guidelines.
There have so far been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Lamu,since the outbreak of the global pandemic within the country last month.
He also reiterated that the county government’s health facilities have designated isolation facilities that will help in case of an outbreak.
The governor was however optimistic that the measures put in place by the county government were sufficient to tackle the spread of the virus in case of an outbreak.
He also commended the Lamu County Assembly for reallocating Kshs 50 million from their internal budget to aid the county manage the crisis.
The county government has so far set aside Kshs 10 million to aid establishing an emergency fund for the county.
“The county is in talks with suppliers to bring in as many ventilators as possible in case of an outbreak, and we will also embark on a massive sanitiser distribution programme in a bid to keep the virus at bay,We are also organising how relief food will be distributed across vulnerable families across the county, in the wake of reduced revenue streams in more than 60 percent of homes within the county,” he added.
He further said that TVETs in Lamu were so far engaged in making as many as 4,000 masks which will be distributed for free across the county as they were now too expensive to buy from any supplier.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu who urged well-wishers to coordinate with the COVID-19 county management team to distribute relief items rather than embark on solitary missions.
“We will not entertain individuals distributing relief items outside the designated programme, in a bid to win political points, and urge that all relief should be steered towards this committee who will then channel it to the public,” Macharia said.
He also urged members of the public to adhere to the curfew regulations to avoid colluding with law enforcement agencies whom he said are only keen to ensure the safety of Kenyans per the MOH regulations provided.
"we have heard cases of brutality, let lamu residents understand that the curfew regulations put in place apply for all in the country, just like the other curfews that have been posed due to insecurity, residents should observe them not to cross with the security enforcers"said Macharia.
ENDS…….
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