The government will hire additional medical personnel to support the precautionary measures to enhance surveillance and check any possible spread of the coronavirus in the country.
According to a statement by the Security Council, the medics will be hired and retained on an emergency basic contract.
“Additional medical personnel be recruited and retained on an emergency basic contract to support the precautionary management measures to enhance surveillance,” read the statement.
The measures were announced on Friday after the National Security Council heldan emergency meeting to receive a report from the National Emergency Response Committee on COVID19.
The government will also use the National Security infrastructure to back the National Emergency Response Committee in to deal with coronavirus following the confirmation of the first case in the country.
“The National Security infrastructure has been mobilised to back the emergency team in dealing with the coronavirus menace,” read the statement.
The Council has also directed all government officers from the national to sub-location level to ensure all measures announced by the committee including continued public awareness on the role of hygiene are executed to enhance surveillance and curb the coronavirus spread.
The officers are also ordered to ensure that there is no public gatherings and meeting within their areas as the government tries to deal with the pandemic.
“All government officers from the national to sub location level should ensure that all the measures such as public awareness on the role of hygiene in the prevention of the spread of coronavirus, and discouragement of mass gatherings and meetings are put in place.”
The Security Council said the government will do everything possible to ensure effective response to the now global challenge of COVID19 and would like to encourage Kenyans to remain calm, and continue with their regular day-to-day activities.
The council, however told Kenyans to remain vigilant, keep good hygiene, observe self-quarantine where necessary under the law and observe the precautionary measures announced by the World Health Organisation and the National Emergency Response Committee on COVID19
Kenya confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 13 after a woman who had travelled from Ohio, USA, to Nairobi via London tested positive for the virus.
The patient is currently under isolation in Kenyatta National Hospital and is said to be very stable.