Governor launches mass testing for Covid-19

Kericho County launched mass testing for coronavirus over the weekend.

The testing, a collaboration between US Walter Reed Medical Research Centre, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) and the county, will see more than 2,000 samples tested every day.

Speaking during the launch, Governor Paul Chepkwony (pictured) said the collaboration marked a milestone in combating the spread of the virus in the region. 

The county has been sending medical samples of suspected Covid-19 cases to Kisumu and Nairobi for analysis. 

“For the last weeks, the Kericho’s Kemri laboratory has been upgrading its testing platform. Its tests have been validated and meet international standards,” said Chepkwony.  

The governor promised that additional equipment will be sourced to increase the county’s daily testing capacity to 6,000 per day in a 24-hour shift.  “I am happy to report that none of the persons screened tested positive for Covid-19,” said Chepkwony. 

He spoke as an Irish charity organisation, Brighter Communities Worldwide, unveiled a seven-bed Covid-19 isolation ward at Dubusat medical centre in Kipkelion West constituency. The organisation has also distributed water tanks and sanitisers in the region.

Chilchila ward rep  Hezron Kipnego said the new ward would boost the county’s preparedness.

“It will supplement isolation wards at Fort-Ternan and Kipkelion Sub-county hospitals,” he said.