President Uhuru to chair another Covid-19 summit to review measures

President Uhuru Kenyatta. [File, Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has convened another inter-governmental summit to review the efficacy of containment measures following the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths.

A Wednesday evening Executive Order from the State House signed by the Spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo states that the President will chair National and County Governments Co-ordinating Summit on November 4, 2020.

According to the order, the sixth summit will focus on deliberating measures of dealing with the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. The order also explains that the country has not only posted alarming numbers but also deaths.

"The extraordinary session has been convened in light of the resurgence of Covid-19 infections across our nation, as exhibited by the fact that Kenya has recorded its highest number of covid-19 monthly fatalities in October 2020,” it partly reads.

In the summit, stakeholders will weigh in the theoretical scenarios on how the disease could manifest in the coming months- November and December. This will come alongside a possible review of the containment measures in place to curb the disease.

The order states in part, “The session shall consider the evolution of the disease as well as the epidemiological models on how Covid-19 may propagate within our country over the months of November and December 2020. The session shall also review the efficacy of containment measures in place, as well as the impacts of easing restrictions that were in place.

The intergovernmental summit comprises governors, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and representatives from other sectors.

The Head of State has also called on Kenyans to remain committed to the observation of the containment measures in place, which he describes as the ‘best weapons’ of the country against the pandemic.

The summit comes in the horizon at a time the country is posting higher Covid-19 cases and deaths. Last month, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned of the second wave after cases started climbing immediately the president lifted some measures.

In his last address, President Uhuru announced a revision of measures, allowing bars and restaurants to operate up to 11 pm and 10 pm respectively.

Containment measures

Dusk to dawn curfew, which had been starting at 9pm to 4am was also reduced to 11pm to 4am. However, the president issued a caution that the changes were subject to revision depending on the prevalent situation of the infections.

Today, the country posted its second-highest number in a day since the first case was noted on March 12. This was after 1,018 people tested positive for the disease, in a sample of 6,649. Coming along it is the second-highest fatality in 24 hours after 16 people succumbed to the virus.

Kenya now has a caseload of 51,851 in a cumulative sample of 672,771. Nairobi remains the epicentre of the virus as Mombasa climbs up the list months after battling to reduce the cases that ran areas like Old Town into a lockdown.

Should the government resort to stricter measures; it would end up in a state of a dilemma given that there is a need to resuscitate the economy. 

Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators have also come up in arms telling the state agencies to allow them to carry full capacity citing losses.