Coronavirus: Gov’t cancels simulation exercise at KNH as it is ‘no longer necessary’

The government has now postponed a simulation exercise on Covid-19 preparedness that had been scheduled for Sunday morning at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and the Infectious Disease Unit of the Mbagathi District Hospital.

According to Government Spokesperson Col. Cyrus Oguna, the exercise was deemed “no longer necessary” as there is already a coronavirus patient being attended to at one of the facilities.

UPDATE: Simulation Exercise at KNH & Mbagathi – Considering there already is a patient being attended to at the facility, the previously planned simulation exercise is no longer necessary & has since been called off. Further information shall be provided in due course.

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) March 15, 2020

To the esteemed members of the press:This function has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. You will be informed of further updates going forward.Inconvencies are highly regretted. pic.twitter.com/SVOxHUKTrM

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) March 15, 2020

The Ministry of Health on Saturday announced that all 22 people who are believed to have had close contact with a Kenyan woman who is in isolation over coronavirus had been traced.

Mercy Mwangangi, the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said samples from the 22 had been taken and were being tested.

Additionally, 23 other people of different nationalities who shared a flight with the Kenyan were also contacted and advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.

During the press conference, Col. Oguna reiterated that face masks are only needed by patients and health workers.

“Anybody who is not unwell does not require masks, the masks are only needed by those who are unwell, but the health workers need them,” he said.

The ministry also released a toll-free telephone number that Kenyans can use to get information on the pandemic.

For instance, USSD code *719# provides information in both Swahili and English on the pandemic; what it is, how its spread and how to stay safe