Ministry rules out mass testing in plan to curb Covid-19


The government on Sunday ruled out mass testing, even as the Health ministry outlined its testing prioritisation strategy and the country recorded eight more cases of Covid-19 infections.
In a statement read on his behalf by Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi, Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said there are now 270 cases of people who have tested positive for the virus.
Dr Mwangangi listed people who will be tested first as healthcare workers in isolation centres and in hospitals generally, people in places that have reported many cases, such as the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the locations that those workers went to, and areas in Nairobi County — which account for more than 80 per cent of the cases.
“All healthcare workers and other first responders directly interact with many people,” Dr Mwangangi said. The targeted mass testing began early this week, with samples being collected from KPA and densely populated areas like Kibera.
The Ministry of Health’s strategy is similar to USA’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also prioritised high-risk patients, specifically those over 65 and those suffering from other health conditions - such as diabetes - that make them vulnerable.
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