Truck drivers have been identified as a risk factor in the spread of the virus with a number testing positive for Covid-19 around East Africa.
In the daily Covid-19 briefing on Sunday, May 10, Kuria announced the new tough rules for truck drivers to minimise the risk of a further spread of the virus through long-distance travel.
Director of Public Health Dr. Francis Kuria addressing the media.
Mandatory testing
“As late as yesterday, we launched the new guidelines of protocols that are going to be used by truck drivers using the transport corridor between Mombasa and our neighbouring countries, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and even Somalia.
“For any truck driver who starts his journey today, they must have had tests 48 hours before starting the journey so if you are a truck driver and you intend to travel to Malaba tomorrow you may not do this because there will be checkpoints along the way,” said Kuria.
Kuria noted that the results will take 48 before they are released because the method used in the tests is Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR which takes about 24 hours.
Test Centres
Along the corridors, there will be checkpoints where truck drivers’ Covid-19 certificates will be checked. Once the results are released, they will be relayed to the Ministry of Health, and the driver be released with an attestation of testing.
Several testing facilities where samples will be collected have been set up. In Mombasa, Miritini Municipal Dispensary, and in Nairobi; Red North Health Centre and the South B Clinic.
In Kisumu, Ahero County Hospital while in Migori, samples will be collected at the Migori County Referral Hospital. In Eldoret, a mobile testing facility and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital will be used.
In Nakuru, the Provisional General Hospital and Naivasha Hospital will be used. In Kilifi, KMTC Kilifi, in Kwale the Kwale Sub County hospital, Msambweni County Referral Hospital and Kinango Hospital.
In Machakos, Mlolongo Mobile Sample Collection Centre, in Wajir, Wajir County Hospital and in Marsabit, Marsabit Country Referral Hospital.
Truckers from neighbouring countries
Kuria also announced measures for truck drivers who will be coming into the country from neighbouring nations.
“For those crossing the border, we require that if you are travelling from Uganda with your truck upon arrival at the border, you are supposed to present a certificate from the country that you started your journey as long as the certificate is within 14 days it will be treated as valid.
“However, we shall still take another sample for verification because a Covid-19 negative certificate does not confirm your are Covid-19 negative forever. You could have picked up the disease along the way.
“Because you have been tested we shall allow you to proceed but along the way, you can be stopped once you get your results,” said Kuria
A truck driver also is required to fill a self-quarantine form, along the transport corridor and they will be allowed to stop only at certain designed points where the ministry has placed public health officers who will monitor their travel.
At the back of the form, public health officers will record the driver’s findings on that form and check whether the certificate is still valid otherwise the drivers will be referred to the next testing facility.
Testing points have been placed at Lungalunga Entry Point, Taveta, Namanga, Busia, Malaba, Isebania, Moyale and Moyale points of entry.
Truckers will be required to hold a certificate regardless of whether they have crossed the border or not.
Symptoms
Should truckers develop symptoms along the transport corridor, public health officers will link truck drivers with a county rapid response team and refer them to quarantine facilities or isolation centres.
Designed stopovers for truck drivers plying the Busia-Mombasa route will be in, Busia, Gilgil, Mlolongo and Mariakani.
Malaba-Mombasa route has stopovers in Malaba, Gilgil, Mlolongo and Mariakani. Namanga-Nairobi will only have a stopover in Mlolongo.
Isebania-Kisumu-Nairobi route will have stopovers in Mai Maihu and Total junction, Mau Summit while Malaba-Nairobi will have a stopover in Webuye but there will be no sleeping facility in Webuye.
Long-distance truck drivers line up before crossing into Uganda.
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