Covid-19: Popular Meru town meat joint shut after staff test positive

A popular butchery-cum nyama choma eating joint in Meru town has been closed, due to coronavirus fears.

Kajim eatery located in Meru town Central Business was closed after one of its tested positive for the virus.

In reaction, 22 of its staff were placed in quarantine after their colleague tested positive for coronavirus.

County public health director John Inanga revealed that the 22 staff at the restaurant have been put in isolation, with another 20 workers at a restaurant in Maua town also put under quarantine.

Health Executive Misheck Mutuma revealed that the staff were taken to the Kenya Medical Training College, while the ones in Maua had gone into self-isolation after their employer provided rooms.

“The restaurant owner in Maua has provided rooms for the workers to self-isolate, but the ones in Meru town were taken to a government facility to minimise the risk of transmission,” said Mutuma.

Mutuma expressed disappointment that residents were not taking the virus threat seriously, as many were disregarding recommended precautionary measures.

“I have seen matatu and boda boda crews overloading, and they do not wear masks as we have asked them to. The government is doing what it can to assist in reducing risks, but members of the public must follow safety guidelines,” he added.

He revealed that so far 10 people have succumbed to the disease in Meru after contracting it in other counties, urging people to take personal responsibility to prevent the disease.