Catering services banned at funerals in Kisumu to avoid spread of corona

Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong'o addressing the press in Kisumu today where the multi-Agency Committee on Covid-19 has come up with measures to help in preventing the spread of the disease. One of the is banning catering services at funeral venues in Kisumu County-Photo By  Dickson Odhiambo

 By Dickson Odhiambo

March 16, 2021

 Catering services banned at funerals in Kisumu to avoid spread of corona

ANY form of  catering services in funerals within Kisumu county has been banned with immediate effect as one of the measures aimed at helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19 disease.

This is one of the measures the Kisumu County Multi- Agency Committee on Covid-19 has come up with to control the spread of the pandemic.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, the Committee also resolved that all morgues are hereby directed not to preserve dead bodies for a period exceeding 72 hours and not to release any body after 10:00 am.

In a press a joint Press statement signed by both Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o and the area County Commissioner Josephine Ouko read by Nyong'o,  there shall be no night vigil in the homes of the deceased.

The Committee says the maximum persons allowed in any burial ceremony is 100 people.

Another measure the committee has come up with is that all places of worship shall only admit one third of their capacities for services.

“All the home based clients on isolation and care must adhere to the laid down guidelines failure to which prosecution shall be instituted after institutional confinement and negative testing.Regular hand washing/ sanitizing and proper wearing of face masks while in public places is mandatory,” says part of the statement Governor Nyong’o has read.

The committee has also all Public Service Vehicles  must adhere to the laid down Covid-19 protocol and guidelines like carrying Capacity, hand sanitizing and must be cleared by the County Director of Public Health.

The Boda Bodas have been reminded that they shall strictly carry only one passenger with Tuk Tuks carrying a maximum of two passengers.

“All restaurants and eateries MUST adhere to the prescribed Covid-19 regulations and they SHALL only be allowed to operate after obtaining Clearance certificate signed by the Director of Public Health and Sanitation, KISUMU;10.All Political gatherings within the county remain banned until further notice,” adds the statement.

Kisumu Central Deputy County Commissioner John Cheruyiot says  the security personnel will ensure that all the guidelines in  regard to Covid-19 are fully adhered to.

He says those who will be flouting the rules and regulations on Covid-19 will be dealt with in accordance to the provisions of the law. 

The country is experiencing a new wave of Covid-19 infections in this period that is now considered the third wave and Kisumu is not spared.

 

Available data shows that there could be quite a number of people succumbing to the effects of the pandemic.

 

In Kisumu Nyong’o says, the situation is of alarming proportions and they must act now to stem the escalation.

 

 “In the last week alone, our positivity rate has risen from 2.5% to 4.7%almost a 100% rise. Yesterday, out of a test number of 200, we realized 25 positive cases with a majority of this number coming from Kisumu Central,” Nyong’o says.

 

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