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Mystery of soaring numbers of Covid cases in Old Town
Jul 7, 2020
In Summary
• The coastal community has been in the news for the wrong reasons during pandemic • Despite a month-long lockdown, the virus has continued to claim its residents, shining a spotlight on their way of life
A few minutes to dhuhr (midday) prayers on a warm Tuesday morning in Old Town, Mombasa county, crowds surge towards a building, oblivious of the danger they are exposing themselves to. Health officials dressed in hazmat suits emerge from the two-storey building with a stretcher, carrying the covered lifeless body of yet another victim of the coronavirus disease, who died in his house. The body is then moved to a waiting Mombasa county van amid mourning cries from relatives and neighbours. The deceased has to be buried within the shortest time possible. This has been a common yet unfortunate occurrence in Old Town, Mvita constituency, which has among the highest numbers of coronavirus infections and also deaths. Surprisingly, most of the deaths recorded are in homes, a clear indication that residents have been shunning testing even when they exhibit symptoms. Despite the trend, many residents still believe the coronavirus does not exist. Kibokoni village elder Mohamed Rashid said the government is cooking up numbers. “We are happy that Old Town was opened up, but we tend to think the numbers are an exaggeration of the state and that is why we are not keen to observe some of the measures recommended by the government,” he said. Asked about the deaths, he said most of the victims succumbed to other illnesses. Halima Hassan, women elder at Kibokoni, said the coronavirus somehow exists but the numbers in Old Town have gone down.. She urged the government to limit the number of people in public places, when the cessation of movement is lifted. As at June 13, there were 47 deaths in Mombasa county. By June 29, the deaths had risen to 53, with Mvita, which covers Old Town, taking the bulk, with 28 deaths. Unlike the initial hotspot Kenya Ports Authority, where stringent protection measures were taken and adhered to, Old Town residents seemed to not only be flouting all the rules but daring and challenging the authorities, prompting Governor Hassan Joho to read the riot act to them.
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