Nairobi should also convert stadiums to hospitals if Covid-19 cases continue to rise — Alfred Mutua

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua on Tuesday opined that Nairobi should utilize resources effectively as it fights Covid-19.

Speaking during an interview on a local TV station, Mutua said there were conversations about flying patients to neighbouring counties for treatment but some got more resources to contain the virus.

“There’s a conversation of Nairobi County admitting its patients in neighboring counties but looking at the resources given for preparation to Nairobi it’s a lot more than Machakos.

“Why can’t it get its act together & convert stadiums to hospitals?” he asked.

Adding: “We do not want to take the burden of others…but if a place is overwhelmed I am willing to accept anyone.

“But if you are overwhelmed because you have not done your work, why should I take your burden?”

Nairobi continues to lead in terms of the number of infections but according to the Ministry of Health, most Covid-19 patients in the country are asymptomatic and can recover at home by following the guidelines issued.

Ever since the cessation of movement order was lifted, the country has recorded high numbers, prompting President Uhuru Kenyatta to call an emergency meeting of top officials to review the situation.

The President has set the Fifth Extraordinary Session of the National and County Governments Coordinating Summit for this Friday on the back of a surge in infections and deaths.

The summit will, among other things, assess counties’ preparedness within the wider national response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The session has been convened following a surge of Covid-19 infections across our nation with the disease having now manifested in 44 of our 47 counties as of July,” read a statement by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena.

Further, the summit will evaluate overall national response and capacity, review the efficacy of the containment measures in place and assess the impact of the phased easing of the restrictions that were in place.

Dena said the meeting would also consider the evolution of the disease and the medical models on how Covid-19 may propagate over the months of August and September.