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Background
The Kenyan government has established a dusk-to-dawn curfew to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has infected 179 people in the country, according to government statistics. As of 8 April 2020, six people had died in Kenya from the disease1.
Since 6 April, movement by rail, road and air in and out of the Nairobi metropolitan area, where the majority of cases are concentrated, has been halted. This additional measure has been taken in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.
Highlights
According to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), people with diabetes might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-192.
As part of the advice for individuals, the KDSG encourages patients to minimize the number of visitors coming into their homes. Patients and their families should also hold the current phone contacts of their treatment facility in the event of any emergency.
With regard to professionals, the strictest hygiene measures should apply. Social distancing can also be put in place in patient waiting areas. When possible, elective procedures should be postponed until after the pandemic.
KDSG is encouraging patients to get in contact with their doctors over the phone, when possible.
Dr Nancy Kunyiha, Chair of the KDSG, explains: “COVID-19 is making our members, both patients and health care professionals, adapt their practice and behaviours to ensure continuity.”
“Resilience at its best is about creating a capacity to cope, but also igniting hope and expressing ingenuity and creativity in the face of challenges.”
“We are encouraging the use of telemedicine options and will provide as much support as we can to our members to limit the damage of the disease on an already-strained system.”
Download
COVID-19: Kenya Diabetes Study Group Statement on Recommendations for Health Care Providers and Patients Living with Diabetes (22 March 2020)
References
- DONG E., DU H. and GARDNER L. (2020). An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30120-1
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html
Disclaimer
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