Government to Start Training Matatu Operators on Coronavirus Prevention In All Bus Stops

coronavirus in Kenya

The Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Kenya. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday said the patient is a 27-year-old Kenyan woman who jetted into the country from the United States but checked herself into a hospital a couple of days later when she suspected that she could have contracted the virus.

The patient is said to be in stable condition admitted in Kenyatta National Hospital’s Infectious Disease Unit. The government said that it has reached out to all the persons she was in contact with. The CS urged Kenyans to remain calm urging business people not to take advantage of the situation with exaggerated prices.

The government has banned all public gatherings, rallies, crusades, interschool activities like drama, music festivals and sports have and meetings of a national nature. Travels outside the country have also been suspended unless necessary. However, operations in churches will be as usual, only if the congregants are provided with hand sanitizers.

With growing fear that the Matatu industry could be the biggest platform where the virus can spread, the government has rolled out training to help educate the operators on how to prevent the virus from spreading. Transport Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary James Macharia on Friday said that public transport vehicles carry a majority of Kenyans. Henceforth, more operators of public transport vehicles will be required to regularly clean their vehicles and provide sanitizers to passengers. Public transport operators’ training on coronavirus has been scheduled for tomorrow between 10 am and 4 pm at various bus stations.

“Public transport carries more than 90 per cent of people. That is why we summoned all public transport operators on Tuesday this week to have a special stakeholder meeting because if this sector has a serious case, every sector of the economy will be affected. Training at bus stops will be from 10 am-4 pm. We have listed 13 countries we consider to be high risk and reviewing the list daily. That’s why we suspended the charter flights from Italy to Malindi and the coast,’’ he said.