Kenya to Use Boarding Schools as Makeshift Covid-19 Isolation Centers

Kenya is set to use boarding schools as makeshift isolation centers for coronavirus patients as well as suspected cases.

The Education Ministry was on Monday directed to identify at least 20 boarding schools in each of the 47 counties to serve as isolation facilities.

Deputy President William Ruto, through Twitter on Monday, said the selected institutions will be equipped by the Health Ministry in collaboration with county governments as part of Covid-19 preparedness.

“This pandemic poses an existential threat therefore every effort counts. This is no time for blame game. Let’s pull TOGETHER,” Ruto wrote.

DP Ruto further urged Kenyans to comply with all the directives issued by the government in an effort to combat the virus.

“We ALL must continue to comply with directives on personal hygiene and curfew. We thank the millions including religious leaders for exceptional compliance,” added Ruto.

On Monday, Kenya confirmed eight new cases of Covid-19, raising the total number of infections to 50.

Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth in a press briefing on Monday said the number of cases in the country could hit 10,000 by the end of April.

“We postulate that we could have 1000 cases by the first week of April, 5000 by mid-April and 10,000 by end of April,” said Amoth.

Nairobi County leads in the number of cases with 37 followed by Kilifi (6), Mombasa (4), while Kajiado, Kwale, and Kitui have one case each. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the virus is no longer being imported from abroad.

“This means the virus is now being spread through community transmission and it calls for more personal responsibility,” CS Kagwe said.