Stadium converted into Covid-19 testing, treatment centre

Machakos County Government opens Covid-19 mass testing and isolation facility at the Kenyatta Stadium which will accommodate up to 400 patients.

The County government of Machakos has unveiled Covid-19 mass testing and isolation facility at the Kenyatta Stadium which will accommodate up to 400 patients.

Governor Alfred Mutua, while commissioning the facility said the decision was informed by the need to free Machakos Level 5 Hospital from being a treatment and isolation centre for the deadly disease.

However, Mutua said the proximity of the new facility to the main hospital will ensure doctors and other health care workers will be in a position to make their way even by foot to the stadium and administer any required medications within minutes if called upon.

“The stadium will house temporary mass screening and treatment areas and will be able to isolate those who are found positive and treat them for mild and non-critical conditions. We have taken this step because hospitals are notorious for the spreading of bacteria and viruses to patients who are suffering from other conditions,” Mutua said.

The governor said his administration was targeting to set up additional facilities to achieve up to 1000 bed-capacity. “We are targeting up to 1000 bed capacity in the county in the next one month. We will also conduct do-to-door screening and closing of markets and closure of the county’s borders,” he said.

Mutua revealed the county government was in the process of procuring additional 10 ventilators to supplement the existing similar number of ventilators which will be used in critical care of Covid-19 patients should the need arise.

“Our Machakos level 5 laboratories have all the required equipment and personnel to test Covid-19. We are just waiting for a nod from the Kenya Medical Research Institute who are in charge of approvals,” he said.

 Machakos County has so far confirmed one positive local case of Covid-19, a Mlolongo resident. 120 people are currently in quarantine whereas at least 1,056 suspected cases that had been in quarantine have tested negative for the disease.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe while giving Covid-19 daily briefs on Monday urged residents of Nairobi Metropolitan designated regions to adhere to the directive of non-movement out of their current residence in order to curb the spread of the disease from Nairobi.