More Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) workers have been confirmed to have Coronavirus after mass testing, which has seen the facility emerging as ground zero for the explosion of virus in the region with 24 of the 79 confirmed infections in the county being the authority’s staff.
Since Kenya recorded the first case of the Covid-19 about 6 weeks ago, KPA has lost 2 members of staff with Governor Hassan Joho yesterday asking President Uhuru Kenyatta to put the country on a complete lock down to prevent new infections.
He spoke this when he launched a 300-bed capacity Covid-19 hospital and four ICU ambulances at the Technical University of Mombasa’s Engineering department.
“The results we are getting from mass testing at KPA are worrying. This is not a joke. There are no two ways into it,” Joho said on total lockdown.
According to records, 11 of the 22 cases at the port are from the Conventional Cargo department where one of the staff succumbed to the virus. Out of those who tested positive at KPA, 13 cases were picked during mass testing which began on Friday last week.
KPA said some 633 employees have received results for the tests while those who were tested yesterday will get theirs today.
The National Emergency Response on Covid-19 Committee identified KPA as one of the risky transmission points for the virus, which made the Health ministry to dispatch 1,000 testing kits for the ongoing mass testing. KPA has about 6,000 staff and many other employees from other port users who visits the port on a daily basis.
On 14th of April 2020, when KPA had only seven confirmed COVID-19 cases, KPA acting managing director Eng. Rashid Salim announced a number of preventive measures.
The port appointed a committee of senior managers to plan, manage and coordinate the Authority’s preparedness to combat the virus.
It put in place 107 hand washing points with antiseptic soap and placed sanitizer dispensers at various areas. These include all entry gates, buildings, offices and operation areas.
The facility, in collaboration with other agencies, enabled the on-line cargo documentation processes to facilitate customers to clear cargo electronically and decongest human traffic within the Port.
Fumigation was also carried out especially in offices occupied by staff found to be positive or suspected to have contracted the virus.
Isolation rooms have been set up at Bandari clinic where suspected patients are temporarily held waiting for public health officers to pick them up.
The management also released staff above 58 years of age and those with pre-medical conditions to work from respective homes in order to avoid crowds at the workplace in line with the government circular.
As a key facilitator of maritime trade and a vital installation to ensure the country and the region gets vital supplies, the Port Public Health officers have rolled out detailed procedures to handle the vessels.
The ships will be required to undertake mandatory Pre-Arrival Reporting on board at least 48 hours before the vessel arrival in Kenya’s territorial waters. Masters of ships must therefore submit a duly completed and compulsory Maritime Declaration of Health form to the Port Health officer and the Masters shall regularly update the Port Health Office on the health status of the crew on board.
All arriving vessels with crew/passengers with recent travel history to countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days must undergo special monitoring.
Every ship entering Kenya from a country with confirmed cases of COVID-19 is subjected to rigorous inspection in the designated location as directed by the Harbour Master in consultations with Port Health Office.
If at any time during a vessel’s stay at port, any health risk is reported, a Port Health Officer shall conduct assessments on a case by case basis to manage the risk and eliminate contamination other crew port personnel and others.
Crew/passengers with any of these symptoms (fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, cough, or shortness of breathing), the Master must report to the Port Health Office.
Crew/passengers of vessels from confirmed COVID-19 countries will Not be granted shore passes. Only Kenyans and foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to disembark after presentation of Health Declaration forms and by the health Authorities.
All visitors (dockworkers, agents, surveyors, port state inspectors) to a ship from countries confirmed with COVID-19 cases must be informed about the precautionary measures while on board. It shall be prohibited for anyone to board a vessel before the completion of the health inspection of the crew or passengers. All visitors to use protective disposable mask and latex gloves while on board and should dispose them on board before disembarking in a special disposal bin.
Masters of all ships due to arrive in a Kenyan port are required to declare their last 10 ports of call or voyage memo for the last three months, whichever is higher, and confirm that there is no crew showing symptoms of COVID-19 on board.
Ships agents, if possible, should use alternative means of contacting the vessels instead of boarding the vessels, so as to minimize potential contamination risk.
For any feedback, contacts us via editorial@feaffa.com / info@feaffa.com; Mobile: +254703971679 / +254733780240
