The Acting Director-General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth on Wednesday, October 14, addressed plans the government is putting in place to handle Covid-19 cases that may arise after schools reopened.
In an interactive session on Twitter, Dr Amoth explained that the Ministry had put a surveillance system in place to monitor Covid-19 cases in schools.
"We also plan to do random sampling in schools to establish the rate of infection in schools if at all," he disclosed.
The DG noted that the decision to reopen schools in phases was a delicate choice adding that the age group has the lowest vulnerability rate.
"We look forward to lessons that will be learned in these first few days of phased opening before deciding whether to continue with the low numbers or full operation.
"We have given special attention to teachers, students and staff with pre-existing conditions to avoid infection within the schools," he stated.
Dr Amoth added that the country had experienced a slight surge of infections following removal of certain containment measures.
"This cannot, however, be regarded as a second phase because we have not fully flattened the curve of the first phase," he noted.
He further stated that infections would rise if the infection prevention and control measures were not adhered to strictly as stipulated by the Ministry urging for people to wash hands, sanitize, wear masks and keep physical distance.
"Returning to stricter restrictions is definitely an option as was stated by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"The Ministry has a duty to ensure that we are a healthy nation. Should we witness a surge, then that will be our final option for the good of the country," he stated.
On Tuesday, October 13, Kenya recorded 318 new Covid-19 infections in 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 41,937.
