KNH restricts public access in efforts to contain coronavirus

The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) management is now implementing strict controls to prevent crowding and facilitate social distancing in the facility as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus.

KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri, in a public notice released on Monday, said only staff and authorized personnel will henceforth be allowed access to the hospital.

“Only family and relatives of patients who have been expressly contacted by the hospital will be allowed access for purposes of facilitating specific requests pertaining to patient care among them blood/organ donations, payment of bills, discharge of patients etc,” he stated.

“All suspected cases of Covid-19 will be screened and isolated at the KNH-Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) Mbagathi next to Mbagathi hospital.”

Additionally, all persons allowed access to the hospital must wash their hands using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and use protective gear provided by the facility.

This comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Kenya rose to three after two more people tested positive.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the two new cases came into contact with the first victim; a Kenyan lady who is reported to have returned to Nairobi from the US via London.

“As you may recall, when we first announced the confirmation of the first case, we stated that we had traced 27 persons who had come into contact with the first patient. We have since tested the 27 people at our National Influenza Center.

“Today, we have received confirmation of two more cases of the coronavirus. The two have tested positive as a result of coming into contact with the first patient,” said Kenyatta.