Coronavirus tally hits 781 as curfew questions linger

Kenyans have to wait until tomorrow to know whether the curfew will be extended or lifted.

Speaking at Afya House on Friday, Health CAS Rashid Aman (pictured) said the containment measures may cause inconveniences but they are necessary in breaking the coronavirus transmission cycle.

President Uhuru Kenyatta last month extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew by 21 days and announced a 21-day extension of the cessation of movement in and out of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and the Nairobi Metropolitan area.

Twenty three positive cases were confirmed today, pushing the national tally to 781.

The cases are spread in Nairobi (11), Mombasa (5), Kajiado (3), Kiambu (2) and Wajir (2).

Three more patients died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 45.

Mass testing and increased supply of medical equipment is expected to ease the pressure on healthworkers and flatten the curve on infections.

Hotspots in the fight against coronavirus have so far been listed as Eastleigh in Nairobi and Old Town in Mombasa.

The two areas were placed under lockdown as residents complain that the action was uncalled for.

The closing down of Eastleigh, a business hub in Nairobi, hurt both residents and the business community.

Traders from other counties buy a lot of their wares in Eastleigh and sell them in other parts of the country.

Some of the wares include fabrics, clothing, beauty products, cosmetics and food items sold in both retail and wholesale.

The hundreds of shops offer employment to many youth who live either in Eastleigh or on the outskirts of the estate.

Many come from Mathare, Huruma, Ngara and other estates along Juja Road and the Thika Superhighway.

While these places are not on lockdown, the workers cannot access their places of work, a situation they say the government did not consider before ordering the lockdown.

The situation in Old Town is no better, seeing as it is dominated by Muslims who are currently observing Ramadhan.

Other than the cessation of movement, there has also been a ban in gatherings and places of worship, including mosques, closed.

As infection numbers increase the government strives to put in place measures that will reduce the spread of covid-19.

But the job has not been without challenge.

In Old Town for instance, many residents did not heed calls to turn out for mass testing. Many were afraid they would test positive and would be forced into quarantine.

While the government insists that staying in quarantine at a government facility is free, some residents deny it.

The quarantine centres have also come under sharp criticism and questions on standards while keeping the patients away from the masses.