Shalom hospital shut after patients die of Covid-19

Shalom hospital shut after patients die of Covid-19

Shalom Hospital in Machakos was on Friday night closed to new patients and turned into a quarantine facility following reported cases of Covid-19.This follows the death of an unspecified number of patients at the hospital as a result of coronavirus.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua said the decision to shut the facility was reached after consulting with Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and the Director-General of Health.“Last night, my government, after consultations with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and the Director-General of Health closed the facility for new patients,” Mutua tweeted on Saturday.

He said the facility has been completely sealed off after a number of patients and a health worker also tested positive for Covid-19.
“Other inpatients have also tested positive for Covid-19 and the fear is that the patients were infected while in the hospital. A health worker has also tested positive,” said Mutua.

Mutua said the facility has now been turned into quarantine facility and told members of the public to seek health services in other facilities.The governor said screening and testing of those within the facility have started but could take several days.

Mutua urged members of the public to remain calm as the county government works round the clock to ensure health facilities are safe to avoid hospital-based infections.”I urge all Wananchi to be patient as we ensure all health facilities are safe so as to avoid hospital-based infections as was the case in places like New York and several Italian cities,” he said.