‘If you stay in Nairobi, stay there and don’t travel to the village,’ CS Kagwe says

The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has advised Nairobi residents against travelling upcountry over the new coronavirus.

Speaking at Afya House on Monday afternoon, CS Kagwe said the coronavirus was now being spread by the community and not by visitors.

He asked Nairobi residents to shelve all travel plans to the rural area until the situation is contained.

CS Kagwe noted that according to the recent census, statistics say that Kenya’s elderly population resides in the rural areas.

He gave an example of Italy which is the hardest hit by the coronavirus with over 10,000 recorded deaths.

The CS noted that movement of people in Italy ended up exposing the elderly population to the virus resulting in cases doubling and death toll rising daily.

“Those who stay in Nairobi should not travel up country during this period, statistics indicate that the elderly Kenyan population lives in the rural areas, we would like to urge those who stay in Nairobi to stay in Nairobi,” He said.

At the same time, CS Kagwe asked those who live in the rural areas to avoid travelling to Nairobi and maintain the social distancing if they do.

During the same address the Health CS announced 8 more cases of coronavirus cases in the country brining the total number of cases to 50.

According to CS Kagwe, 88 samples were tested from close contacts of the previous 42 confirmed cases and out of this number six were confirmed positive.

One of the confirmed cases is a patient at the Aga Khan Hospital.

The CS further stated that tracing of contacts of the 50 patients is ongoing and the total number of close contacts now stands at 1474.