Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The Ministry of Health has once again raised concerns over the growing trend where people are flouting coronavirus containment measures such as wearing of facemasks and keeping social distance describing it as a recipe for disaster.

Health CAS Rashid Aman said that they were particularly concerned that Kenyans, especially those in market places, have thrown caution to the wind even as at time when the country is witnessing a surge in positive cases.

As most of you are now aware, we have continuously advocated for the use of face masks as one of our containment measures against Covid-19, he said, adding: “Wearing of face masks in public places is mandatory.” 

“However, we have noted with a lot of concern that this measure has largely been flouted by many Kenyans and more so in our markets where there is a lot of crowding. This is dangerous and recipe for disaster,” he stated.

Haphazard

Dr Aman also said that the ministry was perturbed by the haphazard dumping of facemasks and sanitizer bottles in markets and other public places noting that this poses health risks such as spread of infectious diseases.

He said dumping of facemasks and bottles had become an eyesore. “Given that surgical masks are supposed to be worn no longer than one day, their disposal along with that of empty hand sanitizer bottles and soiled tissue papers is leading to a growing ugly trail of clinical waste in the environment,” he said.

“There is need to take extra precaution when it comes to disposal of these masks.

In the midst of this pandemic, there may be a tendency to not consider the adverse health and environmental impacts of wanton and haphazard disposal…” he added.

During yesterday’s briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country, Dr Aman also announced that the number of confirmed positive cases had risen to 23,202 after 605 people tested positive from some 4, 547 samples.

Of the 605,582 are Kenyans while 27 are foreigners, he said, adding that the cumulative tests now stand at 322, 923.

The youngest is a two-month old infant while the oldest is 99 years.  Nairobi, which has become the epicenter of the respiratory illness leads with 373 new cases followed by Kiambu (35), Migori (25), Busia (20) and Narok 20.