Behold, the political masks are off

The 30-day extension of the curfew and other measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic given last month by the government ends in two weeks.

A full reopening of the country is now anticipated. Businesses are still hurting, with the hospitality sector hit especially hard. So are small and medium enterprises, many of which have been forced to close down.

Whatever new protocols are devised will also determine when schools reopen. The Ministry of Education is under pressure to end the closure, but parents want clear health guidelines before that is done.

There has been confusion over the matter, with some interested parties insisting schools should reopen this month. However, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has restated that the full school calendar resumes in January next year.

Ah! And not to forget the other almighty vested interest in this country: politicians. Sure enough, the "reggae" train of political rallies is back in full steam, even before Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Covid-19 infections

The optimism that the country is ready for reopening is bolstered by recent Ministry of Health statistics showing that Covid-19 infections have been sharply going down lately. The pattern looks like it is consistent, suggesting that the peak period could have passed.

Last Monday, Health Cabinet Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman admitted that the "curve" could indeed be flattening. But he cautioned: "People should not lower their guard [but] continue to adhere to the containment measures."

Whereas the flattening is attributed to the reduction in the disproportionate number of infections Nairobi records since the pandemic hit Kenya, new transmission hot spots could be emerging in the counties. The MoH has raised concerns about Machakos, Kajiado, Kitui, Meru, Busia and Nyeri.

Kiambu had already overtaken Mombasa to become the second most infected county after the capital city. At his Tuesday briefing, Dr Aman had a surprise: Kitui had registered the highest number of infections the previous day, the first time Nairobi was not leading the daily tally.

It may sound odd to say, but there's been a silver lining to Covid-19 in Kenya. It has forced real upgrades of emergency health facilities both at national-level and county hospitals — the procurement scandals notwithstanding.

Intensive care units

We have seen much expansion in high dependency and intensive care units, with many county hospitals that never had them rushing to build and equip them.

In May, Kilifi County inaugurated a brand-new healthcare complex dedicated to the coronavirus, incorporating a 150-bed isolation centre.

Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria was more dramatic. In April, he built from scratch a 35-bed ICU within a self-imposed span of 21 days.

On Wednesday, Dr Aman confirmed the government’s approval for the first Covid-19 vaccine trials to be conducted in Kenya. (Weren't they going on already?) The tests involve an Oxford University-developed vaccine whose local trials will be carried out in conjunction with the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

But, in an unexpected twist, global trials of the Oxford vaccine were halted last week after a UK participant developed what was described to be a "serious and adverse reaction." The stoppage will allow the review of safety data.

Vaccine research and development is an intricate science which would take a whole tome by a specialist to explain. Nonetheless, one should mention a recent and unusual clarification, with regard to Covid-19, from Kate Bingham, the chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce: "We may need different vaccines for different groups of people."

Covid-19 vaccine

Again, the science behind this is a bit complicated to easily explain here.

Currently, there are about 200 ongoing Covid-19 vaccine projects worldwide. So far, the only vaccine to have been approved for use is Russia's Sputnik-V, whose development Western researchers fret was rushed.

In April, amid great local fanfare, Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina unveiled a herbal-based liquid concoction touted as a Covid-19 "cure". Mmm...the brew even won the attention of the Tanzanian government, which dispatched its Foreign Minister to Antananarivo to bring back samples. However, the Tanzanians have not disclosed the substance's efficacy, if any, since.

Never mind. Coronavirus infections did not abate in Madagascar. By July, Rajoelina was sending out an international appeal for help as Covid-19 cases spiked. As of last Friday, Madagascar's total Covid-19 caseload was 15,624, the 12th highest in Africa.

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Folks have become overly excited over the new gizmos of virtual conferencing in this era of Covid-19 lockdowns and physical distancing. It's become very hip to speak of Zoom meetings, webinars and such. Relax, guys, this stuff had been there well before, only that most chaps didn't know.

What tickles me to no end is to watch fellows being interviewed virtually on TV posing in front of meticulously arranged settings lined with books (which they probably have never read).

Good people, you can do your virtual interview from anywhere: the garden, living room, kitchen, the car and even the bedroom!

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