Nearly half of Kenyans would have been infected by Covid-19 by the time the country experiences the peak of the virus, according to experts.
A top virologist said about 18 million people are likely to be infected with novel coronavirus at its peak.
According to Omu Anzala (At The Center In The Picture Above), a virology and immunology professor at the University of Nairobi, there was a silent infection spreading among Kenyans as per now.
“We [government] have only tested and identified a tip of the people who have the virus. There is a silent infection going up and the curve will eventually peak and begin a decline,” Anzala told Citizen TV.
“About 40 percent will have been infected, recovered, and built resistance. That is natural history.”
The Professor also expressed his fear that the medical facilities in the country will be overrun while as per now hospitals in Nairobi have been overstained.
He added that Mombasa county might have reached its peak since it has maintained its numbers for the last three months and that is not the case with Nairobi which is yet to experience its peak.
“For Nairobi, we are yet to peak. We shall see different counties at the peak in different months because of the issues of the introduction and conduct of the virus. Mombasa in May, June, and July reached its peak. We shall see Mombasa start to decline,” he said.
He added that the peak duration will depend on the ability of the country to consistently test, identify cases, contact tracing, and be able to see a sustained number of infections coming through the period. And that will be then followed by a decline.
“We have to ensure counties are well prepared and then there will be no need for a lockdown. If in any county there will be in any locality an overwhelming of the healthcare system, increased mortality, then those counties must have restricted movement,” he said.
- I Was Dying Of Covid-19 But No Hospital In Nairobi That Would Admit Me
- Governor Oparanya Says Cemetery Land Is Not For Covid-19 Deaths
- Panic at RMS as Jeff Koinange tests positive for COVID-19
- Two CSs Test Positive For Covid-19
various counties are expected to have strong management teams that can identify and contract trace, huge community engagement, and risk communication to allow information to go to the lowest level for people to understand what this virtue is at the grassroots and prepare for it.
According to Omu, only Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado are 70 percent prepared for the virus.
“Eighty percent to 90 percent have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. We are advocating for home isolation, but we must also monitor them. Mombasa is doing well. Most patients are in home isolation. This will save the health system,” he said.
