Kenyans despite facing different situations, always find a way to joke and create laughter around the adverse situations.
On Friday, March 13, after Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announce that Kenya had confirmed her first coronavirus case, Kenyans started sharing several pictures and memes on social media, incorporating songs and quotes.
Pictures of individuals wearing satirical face masks also surfaced.
In the images, individuals can be seen tying tins on their faces, while another had a padlock wrapped around his face. A video also surfaced of an individual selling 'coronavirus masks' begging individuals to buy the masks.
"Ni mia sai. Hii kitu baba utatafuta utakosa boss. Hii itakua hotcake. Zuia! Zuia! corona. Mia moja, kesho elfu mbili. Mtanitafuta mtanikosa.
(It's only Ksh 100 right now. Purchase them right now as they are going to hike soon. They will even be sold at Ksh 2,000," the hawker cried out.
Health CS on Friday, March 13, urged individuals to desist from minting money out of hiking medical services, drugs and handwashing agents and sanitisers.
The CS also reiterated his warning to Kenyans to refrain from sharing false and alarming information on coronavirus.
"I would like to caution anyone who forwards and shares fake and false messages. Remember that if you are caught, you will be jailed or would face a fine," Kagwe stated.
Myths Surrounding Coronavirus:
The virus cannot infect black people. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that this is a myth as the Kenyan lady infected with the virus was a black person.
That Garlic can prevent infection. Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus infection.
Antibiotics can treat corona. The World Health Organisation has not released any drug or vaccine yet. The agency is currently conducting research on coronavirus prevention.
Can thermal scanners detect an infected person? Yes, it detects fever. However, they cannot detect people who are infected but have not yet shown fever symptoms.
Corona affects older people only. The disease affects everyone, however, the aged are most vulnerable to the disease.
Cold weather and snow cannot kill the new coronavirus. There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill new coronavirus or other diseases.
The normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather. The most effective way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.
Taking a hot bath can prevent you from getting infected. This is false.
Corona can be spread through mosquito bites. To date, there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose
Prevention:
Measures to protect oneself against the infection were stipulated by the Ministry of Health. Health experts have been insisting that the best way to prevent infection is through proper handwashing with face masks serving only a minimal advantage. One can also maintain one metre between them and someone who is coughing or sneezing.
The CS also directed persons with a cough or sneeze to stay home and maintain good respiratory hygiene by covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Mutahi Kagwe also urged Kenyans to maintain calm and cooperate with the government.
"This is that time when we are calling for serious citizen responsibility. This is not a situation where we depend on the government. It is time we take responsibility as a nation," Kagwe rallied.
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