NAIROBI(SONNA):From carrying more than the authorized number of passengers in public transport vehicles and motorbike taxis to failing to wear face masks in public places, Kenya’s rural residents are becoming a weak link in the East African nation’s fight against COVID-19.
The belief in most rural areas in the East African nation is that COVID-19 is an urban area disease, in particular Nairobi and Mombasa.
Therefore, many residents do little to protect themselves and other people.
“We are seeing many people in rural areas not adhering to the laid down containment measures. Motorbike taxi operators are carrying up to three people in violation of our guidelines,” said Rashid Aman, the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Health on Sunday.
Failure to wear masks and adhere to social distancing, according to Aman, pre-exposes one to the virus.
“Everybody needs to wear masks. It’s the only way we can prevent the spread of the virus, especially where people are close to each other like in public transport vehicles. We want to encourage all Kenyans to wear the masks,” he said.
Kenya’s rural areas host a majority of elderly people, with the health ministry noting cases of the disease among the group is on the rise.
So far, the oldest person in Kenya to contract the disease is 100 years old. On Sunday, as he announced new cases of the disease in the last 24 hours, Aman said the oldest affected person was 83 years.
“Our worry is the older people in rural areas, who if infected will lead to critical cases and even death because their immunity is weak and they may be having other pre-existing conditions,” he said.
East Africa’s biggest economy recorded 309 more positive cases on Sunday, bringing the total caseload to 7,886. Recoveries stood at 2,287 as the death tally hit 160 after one more person died.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is on Monday expected to give further directions on the restrictions that include a curfew and partial lockdown of Nairobi.
While most citizens are hoping that the restrictions would be lifted, health experts fear that this may lead to a rise in COVID-19 cases in rural areas where most Kenyans live amid a poor state of preparedness in counties.
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