Kisumu County has taken drastic public safety measures after a patient at the Aga Khan Hospital was quarantined upon developing symptoms similar to those of Covid-19.

The county government has shut down all open-air markets and ordered that all bodies be buried within 48 hours. 

Traders in public spaces have also been ordered to provide running water, soap and hand sanitisers or risk closure.

Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o ordered public service vehicles to take passenger manifests and restricted boda boda operators to carrying only one passenger per trip. 

Nyong’o also ordered the closure of livestock markets and abattoirs.

Besides quarantining the patient, who lives in Kisumu, health officials have traced his home and asked his family to self- quarantine for the next 14 days unless the specimen sent to Nairobi returns a negative result for Covid-19.

“We traced his route and have coordinated with the health officials to ensure anyone he made contact with is isolated.

All the same, we have to take these drastic measures just in case the tests are positive,” said Nyong’o.

He urged Kenyans to adhere to recommended hygiene standards in a bid to combat the pandemic.