Counties step up measures to fight Covid-19

Counties continue to scale up measures to combat the spread of the novel CoronaVirus amid a shortage of face masks and other personal protective equipment in parts of the country.

With the government declaring it mandatory that everyone puts on a face mask while in public, private entities are now offering to donate face masks to members of public to boost the fight against Covid-19 in the country.

The Trans Nzoia County Emergency Response team on the coronavirus on Saturday received 50,000 face masks donated by the Allan Chesang foundation that will be distributed to the most vulnerable groups in the area.

Speaking during the issuance of the masks to members of public, Chesang urged the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution to  curb the spread of the virus.

At the same time, he urged other leaders to come out and help the less fortunate as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to ravage households across the country.

“I’m urging other business leaders in this county as well as across the country to join hands and assist especially the less fortunate as we combat this pandemic. We must help each other because we are only as strong as the weakest in our communities!” said Chesang, who earlier made a donation towards the Governor Ali Hassan Joho-led Mombasa Emergency Household Relief and Nutrition Support Project.

In Western Kenya, Vihiga Governor Wilber Otichilo launched mass production of face masks. The initiative seeks production of at least 2500 face masks a day youth at the County’s TVET Centre at Ebusiralo.

The Governor says the masks will be distributed to vulnerable residents across all sub counties in the county.

Elsewhere, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has urged the National Government to consider alternative ways of ferrying transit cargo to Uganda and other countries in the Great Lakes Region until the coronavirus pandemic is contained.

Addressing the press after visiting flood victims in Busagwa, Rukala and Ndekwe in Bunyala South ward, the Governor warned that the use of trucks poses more danger to County residents who are at risk of contracting the disease occasioned by the huge snarl up being witnessed in Busia and Malaba borders.

This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta called for local manufacturing of face masks as part of the measures to combat the spread of the novel corona virus in the country.