By Rose Achiego
Mombasa Archbishop Most Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, has called on Kenyans to take precautionary measures to avoid contracting the Coronavirus which is rapidly spreading across the continents.
Speaking during the launch of Lenten Campaign 2020 at the Marian Shrine, Subukia in Nakuru, Archbishop Kivuva urged people to pray for one another as the Coronavirus which is rapidly spreading and claiming lives may not be far away from Kenya.
Archbishop Kivuva said the Church is not taking lightly the issue of the virus which is threatening the lives of people throughout the world. He called on doctors to be alert and be prepared with emergency response so as to deal with the virus and other diseases that affect Kenyans.
Kenyans on mainstream and social media are already expressing fear of the presence of the Coronavirus in the country after China’s Southern Airlines Flight CZ 6043 landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Guangzhou, China, with 239 passengers on 26th February 2020. All the passengers were cleared to enter Kenya but advised to go on ‘self-quarantine’ for 14 days.
In a response to public concerns, the Ministry of Health on Thursday, 27th February, 2020 through Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman, said the passengers were asked to self-quarantine, adding that the Ministry had already taken measures to keep the public safe.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Kenya among 13 top priority countries that either have direct links or a high volume of travel to China.
In other news, President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued an Executive Order on the coronavirus, formed a national emergency response team and ordered the completion of an isolation centre at Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi within 7 days.
Meanwhile, according to Vatican News, 400 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in Italy with 12 deaths reported. Most of the cases have been reported in the northern part of the country.
During a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis expressed his sympathy with coronavirus sufferers.
“I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with Coronavirus and my support to health care workers who are caring for them,” the Pope said.
Reports available online indicate that, the coronavirus is spreading in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of the world. Brazil has already confirmed a first case in Latin America while as number of new cases reported there continues to slow.
More deaths have been reported in Iran and Italy, while South Korea on Wednesday said an 11th person had died of the disease in the country.
Globally, at least 80,000 people have been diagnosed with the illness of which 78,000 cases are in China. Reported deaths are at 2,800 with 2,715 in China. Deaths in other countries are recorded at 44.
According to WHO, “Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Common signs of the infection include respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, fever and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
