Let not Christmas be Covid-19 infection Waterloo

The country’s Covid-19 infection rate has averaged 27 per cent in the last five days and the fast-spreading Omicron variant is said to be responsible for the high rate of infection. 

According to the World Health Organisation, a normal situation should be one where the infection rate is below five per cent. 

The Omicron variant that was first detected in South Africa is said to spread twice as fast as the Delta strain and can affect even those who are vaccinated. 

The difference, though, is those vaccinated can withstand the ravages of the infection. 

Experts in Kenya predict a peak in the recent wave of infections to be around mid-January and this is partly because people will lower their guard during the festive period. 

Christmas is here and it is time to make merry. It is time to meet those who we do not often spend time with and it is also a moment to party and mingle with crowds. 

But there lies the big danger. Omicron will spread in those parties; it will devastate villages; it will send many to hospital and God forbid it will send some to early graves. However, the situation does not have to be this grim. 

Head of the World Health Organisation Teodoros Ghebreyesus has advice on what to do. He admits the world is sick of the pandemic and the earlier we get rid of it the better. 

He says the fastest way to do this is to make the difficult decisions to protect ourselves and others. 

And he advises that while everyone wants to party over the festivity, an event cancelled is better than a life terminated.  

He wants people to postpone travel and merrymaking so that lives can be saved. In his words, you better delay the celebration than end up grieving. 

We urge Kenyans to first get vaccinated. That barely nine million people have been vaccinated is an indictment of our fight against the deadly virus; getting jabbed will lessen the effects of the infection. 

Secondly, adhering to the protocols of keeping the virus at bay, that is, washing hands with soap regularly, keeping social distance and wearing a mask will save lives. 

Lastly, avoid the Christmas crowd or movement. These simple steps will make Kenyans have an easy time next year.

It is incomprehensible for the country to go into another punishing lockdown because of a surge in new infections.