Governors say lack of Covid-19 kits slows down testing in counties

Chair of the Health Committee at the Council of Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong'o address the press in Kisumu to give the COG monthly update on Covid-19-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

 

 By Dickson Odhiambo

 

April 21, 2021

 

Governors say lack of Covid-19 kits slows down testing in counties

 

Lack of testing kits in all the 47 counties across the county slows down testing for the Corona virus at the county level, the Council of Governors has said.

 

The Council of Governors says lack of the kits is to blame for the slow testing for Covid-19 in counties.

 

Addressing the Press in Kisumu today to present the Council of Governors Covid-19 monthly updates, COG chair for the health Committee Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o says this therefore means that County Governments across the country have no control over the increasing number of Corona virus infections.

 

The COG now urges the Ministry of Health to avail rapid testing kits (antigens) and PCR COVID-19 testing equipment to all Counties to stem the spread of the virus.

 

Nyong’o who is also the Kisumu Governor says the COG has noted with concern that there is low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine by the target population in phase one.

 

The Chair of the Health Committee, Council of Governors adds that County Governments shall enhance advocacy measures to increase public confidence on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

However, he says cumulatively in the 47 Counties, a total of 874,932doses have been received.

 

He says out of this 642,751 doses have been administered as follows: Healthcare workers 136,084, Security 52,603, Teachers 97,786 and Others 356,278.

 

Nyong’o at the same time says in Kisumu As at April 16, 2021, a total 2,866 have been cumulatively confirmed in Kisumu out of which, 161 were diagnosed in the last seven (7) days, adding that this translates to 29 cases daily average for the month of April.

 

“The rise in infections is reflected in our weekly positivity rate which as at the 16^th of April stood at 15.7% compared to 9.5% the preceding week giving us a cumulative test positivity rate of 9.3%,” Nyong’o says.

 

He says the confirmed cases in Kisumu county as from March 8 to April 16 is as follows; Kisumu Central 571, Nyando 17, Kisumu West 162, Kisumu East18, Muhoroni1, Seme 6 and Nyakach, adding that this gives a total of 635 confirmed cases.

 

“This shows that our preventive behavioral patterns in Kisumu Central need focus and calls for continued scale up of containment measures and rethinking of our personal behaviors in relation to Covid,” Nyong’o further adds

 

He adds that currently, there are 68 active cases in isolation with 28 in isolation facilities both public and private and 40 on home based isolation.

 

“I am happy to report that our isolation capacity is still robust and working under capacity. We cannot however sit pretty as the infections escalate within the region with a number of facilities in various counties compromised,” Nyong’o further says.

 

ENDS: