The Nairobi County Government on Tuesday, March 17 announced various measures being taken to keep city residents safe from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nairobi.
The county revealed that they had identified crowded hotspots in the city where sensitisation exercises on the virus would be conducted. Kenyans were also urged to stay away from the crowded areas.
"We have identified hotspots where we have crowds in Nairobi; and right now we have officers who are educating the public. Educating the public is an important step in preventing the infection.
"We are at the bus stop at the Kenya Railways Terminus, at Tea Room, at Machakos Country Bus [Station] and we are sensitising all these people who are in the crowded places to take preventive measures especially the handwashing, we are conducting live demonstrations there and we are telling them to avoid crowded places," an official stated.
The county officials also raised an alarm after bottles of hand sanitisers went missing in various hospitals amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Health CEC Hitan Majevdia revealed that they had received reports of hand-sanitiser thefts from two hospitals on Monday, March 16, as he warned citizens to desist from the behaviour as it was putting lives at risk.
"You know we have had cases of people stealing sanitisers. Yesterday we had two private hospitals complaining that the public are stealing sanitisers because they are not available or they are too expensive.
"When you are stealing a bottle of sanitiser, you know you could be sanitising over 100 hands, but one person picks up that bottle. Please avoid those things," he stated.
Majevdia promised that sanitisers would me made available at various public places, explaining that the delay in providing them had been occasioned by the failure of manufacturers to keep up with the increased demand.
"Sanitisers are going to be in plenty. Because of an emergency that happened on Saturday (when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed), people have just done panic buying.
"But from tomorrow or the day after, the manufacturers have been talking to us and they will be available so don't do these things because you are actually depriving others of their own safety," he noted.
Hotels, restaurants and eateries in the city were also directed to ensure that they provided soap and water at their establishments.
It was revealed that officers from the county government would be conducting inspections to ensure compliance with the directive.
Building owners were also directed to provide hand sanitiser for visitors to their premises.
Watch the press conference below:
