“Will it ever get easier?”
That’s the big question in the mind of any Kenyan right now.
With a gradual increase in cases and persistent chronic effects post-recovery, the situation is causing a lot of anxiety and leaving so many unanswered questions.
At least 213 people tested positive on Wednesday, 26th August, in Kenya, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to at least 33,016 with 564 deaths. In comparison, Tanzania has 509 active cases, 21 deaths and 183 recoveries. In Rwanda, there are 2,577 cases, 1683 recoveries and 10 deaths. Burundi has around 430 cases and Uganda stands at 1,603 cases, 15 deaths and 1,165 recoveries.
In a televised national address on Wednesday, 26th August, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions as the country’s infections had reached a “manageable level.”
Kenyatta lifted a ban on alcohol sales in hotels and restaurants, saying, “hotspots like Nairobi and Mombasa have begun to stabilize,” as a result of the majority of Kenyans adequately observing Covid-19 guidelines. The national positivity rate has fallen from 13% in June to 8% in August, the president noted, adding “we are reporting more recoveries than infections in some instances”.
Bars and nightclubs will remain closed, and a nationwide curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time will remain in place for another 30 days.
Despite the progress in major cities, Kenyatta warned the crisis is shifting to other counties with weaker health systems. “The new frontier of this invisible enemy is increasingly shifting to the counties and rural areas,” he said.“We note the good progress we have made so far in fighting this enemy, but this positive news is no license for us to drop guard and backslide from our path of responsibility.”
More than 1,000 children in Kenya have contracted the virus so far, the primary cause could be due to community transmission or crowded households. Authorities have been advising mums to take precautions before and after pregnancy to keep the mortality rate down.
The good news is that research is being conducted by the University of Nairobi on COVID-19 survivors. It will involve a thorough medical check-up of the patients through blood tests, X-rays, echocardiograms (images of the heart), and physical examinations.
This will help determine the long-term effects of the virus on the human body. It has already been observed that many people who have recovered are already experiencing various forms of chronic issues – including damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, exhaustion and difficulty with concentration and memory.
With the major blow to the economy due to the shutdowns, lockdowns, and lack of tourists, businesses have been eagerly looking forward to restarting and resume normal operations, hoping that the authorities will soon lift the travel bans and restrictions. At the same time, many are accepting the fact that society will continue to live with the virus for some time, which may eventually become the new normal.
There has been a huge loss of income with significant drops in imports and exports in the country. This resulted in a spike in the unemployment rate and business profits. Tourism, in particular, took a big hit.
That being said, some groups have taken this crisis and the subsequent restrictions as an opportunity to help re-strategize businesses and services. Many industries have realised the benefit of online media during these lockdowns and curfews, and subsequently launched E-services such as filling platforms.
Technology services overall have suffered during these times in Kenya. However, they are still comparatively better than many countries like Indonesia and Nepal.
Despite having cancellations and little to no bookings related to tours and safaris, there is a ray of hope in the tourism industry as they have been getting inquiries in East Africa for future visits.
The dark side, however, is more prominent. COVID-19 has caused many families to result in living on the streets, due to an inability to fulfill their basic needs. There has been a rapid increase in the number of street children due to the rise in domestic violence; more and more are leaving their homes every day, to live a dangerous, precarious and vulnerable life on the streets.
Girls are more likely to be protected by legal authorities and volunteer organisations because of their added vulnerability of sexual assault, trafficking and rape, but 7 out of 10 street children are male. Some minor boys are working jobs such as cleaners to earn a little and feed themselves and their families. Others must beg on the streets to make a living, which is particularly hard at the moment due to the fact that many people no longer rely on cash due to the added risk of transmitting the virus. On regular days before coronavirus, it was a bit easier for them to scavenge and get food to eat. But currently, the pandemic has made the already hostile streets unbearable, leaving these children with nothing at the end of the day.
One street child named Jonte noted, “the truth is that this thing called corona has affected us. We have been left on our own in the dark, just fighting this life.”
We at the Evie Grace foundation have provided housing for more than 150 young boys rescued from the streets and are working hard to provide more children, teens, and young mums a safe place during this pandemic. Now more than ever, we need all the help we can get to ensure the safety and security of hundreds of vulnerable children throughout Kenya.
**Please donate today**
References
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nairobi/2020-08-03-covid-19-forces-more-families-into-streets-says-social-dept/
https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2020/08/over-1000-children-have-contracted-covid-19-in-kenya/
https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/kenya/2020-08-03-effects-of-covid-19-will-it-get-easier/
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/kenya-records-32557-covid-19-cases-nearly-19000-recoveries/ar-BB18j72x
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/big-read/2020-07-30-how-covid-19-is-changing-the-lives-of-street-children/
https://covid19data.com/2020/08/26/kenya-eases-covid-19-restrictions-as-hotspots-begin-to-stabilize/
Written by: Chandini Balla
