Kisii county government has secured the COVID-19 testing machine to enable the county to enhance testing of samples of the disease and its treatment.

Speaking during the inspection on May 13, Kisii Governor James Ongwae applauded the national government and World Bank noting that this will boost surveillance and control systems of the pandemic.

“ The machine is a relief to the county, Homabay, Migori, Nyamira, and Bomet Counties. I thank president Uhuru Kenyatta for considering our county,” Ongwae said, adding it will be operational in two weeks.

The governor, accompanied by KTRH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Enock Ondari, Director of Medical Services, Dr. Geoffrey Otomu, and Director of Public Health Dr. Richard Onkware said the machine tests more than 1000 samples in a day, adding it reduces testing time from two to five days and saves on transport cost ferrying samples to Kisumu for testing.

Ongwae decried increasing cases of Covid 19 in the county, adding it is at 40 percent, and challenged residents to embrace the COVID-19 guidelines to keep the pandemic at bay.

Dr. Ondari and Dr. Otomu said the machine was a milestone to the facility, adding it will protect health workers and help them test patients before they are treated.

“We can test patients scheduled for surgery before they go to the theatre in a bid to protect health workers,” Dr. Ondari said.

Statistics show that 41 people succumbed to the pandemic since it broke out last year, which represents 2.9 percent of the people who were infected.

This led to the closure of the offices offering non-essential services in the county.

“1,394 out of 1396 cases of the disease reported in the county are local transmissions. We have followed up 6010 contacts and tested over 10,293 people,” Dr. Onkware added.

Kisii County has received 9,951 Astrazeneca vaccines and the vaccination is on for the county residents.