By Betty Luke
Services at the Runyenjes Law Courts in Embu County have been suspended for one week after eight staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu said the eight workers had already self-isolated in accordance with the Ministry of Health Protocols and that contact tracing exercise had been commenced.
The Acting CJ further directed that fumigation starts immediately while all the court personnel gets tested for the disease.
Urgent court cases within the seven days will be handled at Kerugoya and Embu Law Courts.
This comes a week after Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti suspended for 30 days all non-essential services following spike in infections and deaths with the disease having killed at least 12 people in the last one month.
The directive issued by the County Secretary Ahmed Galgalo allowed staffers offering essential services in Fire, Health, Finance, Municipality and Water departments to continue working from the offices but with reduced staff to stem the spread of the deadly virus.
In event of emergencies, departmental heads will be required to make necessary arrangements to ensure the needed services are provided to citizens in time, the statement read in part.
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki two days ago ordered a suspension of all non-essential services in the county due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
Mr Njuki directed that those working in the revenue and health departments continue working from the offices while the rest work from home to prevent further spread.
Though infections were on the rise, Governor Njuki said, his government was adequately prepared to stem transmissions.
The oxygen plant at the Chuka County Referral Hospital has the capacity to produce 10 cylinders of 8.5 cubic metres of oxygen in half a day against the current daily need of six to eight cylinders.
Out of the 3030 people tested in the county in the last one year, 378 have tested positive with pending results for about 250 tests.
