City, Mombasa estates sealed off as Covid-19 cases soar
By Irene Githinji, May 7, 2020Irene Githinji @gitshee
The government yesterday sealed off Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate and Old Town in Mombasa after the two areas registered an alarming increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the past week.
For two consecutive days, the two heavily-populated urban settlements registered double-digit figures of the deadly respiratory disease, forcing the government to ban movement in and out of the areas for the next 15 days, effective yesterday 7pm, as a measure to control spread of the pandemic.
While announcing the ban, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said public transportation will not be allowed in and out of the two areas, in what he described as a move to protect further spread of the disease whose cases shot by 47 yesterday, bringing the national tally to 582.
Kagwe said the situation in the two areas is of serious concern, which called for stricter containment measures.
“The government has identified epicentres where the numbers have grown. There will be a cessation of movement in and out of Eastleigh in Nairobi and Old Town in Mombasa with effect from today (Wednesday) at 7pm for the next 15 days,” said the CS, who spoke at Afya House during the daily briefing on the status of coronavirus.
The government immediately gazetted the new orders with movement in an out of Eastleigh having been mapped in areas stretching from General Waruinge Road (Pumwani Maternity roundabout), First, Second and Third avenues as well as 17th, 18th and 19th streets.
Roadblocks will be mounted to seal off three administrative units namely, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South and Eastleigh Airbase.
For the Old Town, the areas sealed off comprise Mombasa sub-county, Mvita constituency as well as Mji wa Kale location and Makadara sub-location and its boundaries that are north of Fort Jesus.
The other streets locked down include to the North, Mlango wa Papa Road, to the East, Indian Ocean, to the South, Makadara Road and to the West, Digo Road.
Restaurants closed
Containing Eastleigh, in particular, is expected to pose a big challenge owing to the big number of entry points including Juja road, specifically at the St Theresa’s Church junction, Kariokor roundabout and the Pumwani junction.
Other routes to access Eastleigh include Gikomba market, Jogoo road near Rikana supermarket roundabout and Thika road via Mathare.
On Tuesday, Nairobi recorded 29 Covid-19 cases, all of which were reported in Eastleigh, while Mombasa had nine cases.
Eastleigh has recorded a total of 68 cases while Old Town has 71 infected people.
During this time, the CS said markets, restaurants and eateries will all be closed within the two areas within the same period. Out of the new cases reported yesterday, 32 are from Mombasa, 11 from Nairobi, two from Busia, one from Kiambu and another from Kwale.
In Mombasa, the cases were spread in Mvita (25), Changamwe (two), Likoni (three), and Kisauni which had two cases.
In Nairobi, five people who tested positive were from Eastleigh, two from Kasarani, while Kibra, Umoja, Dandora and Karen, had one case each.
Targeted testing
Despite the rising numbers, Kagwe said eight patients were discharged, bringing the total number of recoveries to 190.
However, two more people from Mombasa aged 68 and 72 succumbed to the virus while at home.
The CS stated that the government will meet the cost of targeted testing for coronavirus and quarantine and has urged Kenyans not be afraid of getting tested.
“These measures are not intended to punish the affected residents; they are aimed at ensuring that the disease is identified, isolated and contained,” said the CS.
He warned anyone with intentions to accommodate persons who “flee” Eastleigh, saying they could be subjecting themselves to the disease.
However despite the warning, some of the residents were seen ‘fleeing’ from the areas hours before the ban took effect last evening.
“You will be an extremely foolish person to allow a person who has run away from Eastleigh to come to your house and stay with you… if you are from Eastleigh, stay there and take the test,” said Kagwe.
The minister regretted that community deaths were on the rise which poses a risk of infection to families and friends.
Yesterday, the transport sector got further measures aimed at containing spread of the disease.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia announced new rules that will see truck drivers on transit tested every 14 days.
He said truck drivers must produce coronavirus free certificates for them to be allowed into the Inland Container Depots in Nairobi as well as the Port of Mombasa to deliver or collect cargo.
The drivers will also be required to produce the said certificates before or leaving Kenya from neighbouring countries.
“All truck drivers leaving our country to the neighbouring ones have to be tested at least 48 hours before leaving Mombasa or Nairobi. They are to produce a certificate at the border showing they are coronavirus free. Certificate is valid for 14 days,” said Macharia.