NAIROBI—Traders and residents of Mandera town are worried lot after leaders in neighboring counties stopped free-flow of people, particularly from Mandera, to cross into their jurisdiction over fears of potential spread of the Covid-19 following two confirmed cases earlier this week.
The news comes as Isiolo Emergency Response Team on Saturday ordered indefinite closure of the county’s border points with Wajir and Garissa at Modogashe and Malkagalla to curb spread of coronavirus following confirmation of two cases in Mandera County, the Nation reported.
The directive comes barely two days after the county Marsabit took similar decision that has already shut its borders with Mandera for 21 days in efforts to stop movement in and out of the two counties.
“In efforts to stem coronavirus spread, we have ordered immediate closure of the border points to prevent people, vehicles and motorcycles from northern counties from passing through our county,” said Isiolo County governor, Mohamed Kuti who co-chairs the Covid-19 committee with County Commissioner Herman Shambi.
“Those transporting foodstuffs must, however, be subjected to temperature checks at the roadblocks that will be mounted within the border points before they are allowed in,” Kuti added.
There are fears that the virus spreading to Lower Eastern region due to its proximity to Mandera which continues to trace about 100 people who came into contact with the two patients admitted at Mandera Referral Hospital.
It’s reported that the victims initially travelled from Kilifi county via Nairobi on the 1st of April and spent a night at leheley town, a 10-minute drive from Wajir town.
They also had their breakfast at a hotel in Wajir before proceeding to Mandera on the 2nd of April.
Meanwhile, Public health promotion officers and Kenya Redcross conducts a sensitization activity at Wajir military base on COVID-19.
