Workplace Covid-19 guidelines adherence emphasized

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Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama receives Chief Commercial Officer Equity Bank Polycarp Igathe (left) and South Nyanza
Regional Coordinator George Owino in his office.

Heads of County and national government offices in Nyamira County have
been directed to comply with the workplace guidelines on containment
of covid-19 pandemic which were issued through the Head of Public
Service to manage the disease.

            Nyamira County Commissioner Amos Mariba decried the rate at which the
guidelines were being flouted, exposing the workers, their families and visitors
to the disease.            Mariba was speaking on Tuesday at Nyamira Referral hospital during a handing over
of part of the PPEs worth Sh287m procured by Equity Group Foundation.

            Mariba reiterated the government’s requirement for those with
pre-existing conditions and the elderly to work from home.

            He emphasized the need for social distancing of 1.5m between
employees, wearing of face masks, washing hands, and frequent
sanitizing of surfaces.

            Mariba also put on notice those stigmatizing the affected persons
saying it was a criminal offence.

            He said those quarantined must stay another 14days at home before
reporting to work, and all meetings for more than four people should be held via
 digital platforms.

            This comes even as the county’s has five reported covid-19 cases have since recovered and subsequently discharged from various hospitals.

            According to County governor Mr. John Nyagarama, 134 workers have been trained
on Covid-19 management in preparation for the expected spike while the
hospital’s ICU has five beds with ventilators.

            While handing over the PPEs, Equity Bank Chief Commercial Officer
Polycarp Igathe noted the need to protect medics who were frontline
workers in the Covid19 pandemic fight.

            Igathe said this was the first of the four phases of the PPEs
donations by the bank in the next 24 to 36 months, which would be
distributed to 68 public hospitals across the country.

            He revealed that another locally made consignment worth Sh400m would
be distributed soon by the group which has invested Sh1.1b including
Sh85m for psychosocial management.

            Appealing to residents to take personal responsibility in preventing
the spread of Coronavirus, Igathe said that no law, custom or tradition
could protect one from infection without them taking precautions.

            County Health CEC Douglas Bosire was among other County officials present.