Time to be responsible

The raft of strict public health measures, which included lockdowns and movement restrictions for months on end to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, are easing in a bid to salvage the economy, which was left in a shambles. Borders are reopening to allow for tourism and trade.

The country has recorded more than 36,000 confirmed cases with 600 related deaths and counting. However, infections are declining in Nairobi and Mombasa while increasing in some other counties.

Right from the outset, Kenya did not institute widespread testing. So far, in a population of 53 as at this month, only 498,733 tests have been conducted. This was amid reports of asymptomatic carriers a few months ago. The people being tested are declining and contact tracing reduced in the past weeks.

Severe cases and complications

Of note, severe cases and complications of the disease have been associated with low immunity. The ease in travel restrictions, therefore, leaves the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions vulnerable to exposure from probably younger and stronger travellers who could be healthy carriers.

Gatherings are an area of great concern, as is readiness and capacity of the counties to handle a second wave of the pandemic. Shortage of emergency response kits, like personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, should be addressed.

The anticipated full reopening of the country should not be interpreted as a return to business as usual. Rather, it is a call for Kenyans to step up personal responsibility and protection measures as we settle into the post-pandemic “new normal”.

There is only so much the government can do and, as Ghana’s President Nana Akuffo Addo said, “We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life.”

Let us all be diligent enough to take personal responsibility against the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Nyamache is a general medical practitioner. [email protected].