University Statement on Coronavirus (Covid-19) To Students and Employees
The Government of Kenya announced on March 13, 2020 that Kenya has one case of Corona Virus infection. The government further announced measures to protect the public from further spread of the disease that has affected a major part of the world today. We urge all of you to follow the measures given by government officials through mainstream media (take note that fake news is also spreading from sources we shouldn’t trust or even share).
What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, running nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. The disease is very dangerous and can kill a person immediately, however, some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness and their condition may get aggravated. People with fever, cough and difficulty in breathing should seek medical attention.
How does Covid-19 spread?
- People can catch Covid-19 from others who have the virus.
- The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales.
- These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person.
- Other people then catch Covid-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
- People can also catch Covid-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with Covid-19 who coughs or sneezes the droplets.
- This is why it is important to stay more than one meter (3 feet) away from a person who is infected or sick.
Precautions or What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease?
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading Covid-19 by taking some simple precautions:
- There is no shaking of hands and hugging with anyone. Handshakes and hugging transmit the virus. This is because, hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. Thereafter, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
- Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap (or liquid soap in public places) and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Washing your hands with liquid soap and water in public places or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Keep some distance when talking with people. You should not be too close. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the Covid-19 virus, if the person coughing has the disease.
- Do not go to public places without using sanitizer.
- Maintain a distance of at least 2 meters (6 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. This is because, when someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus.
- Persons with a cough or sneezing should stay home or hostel and keep away from social gatherings or crowded places and avoid mixing with others in a crowd.
- Maintain good respiratory hygiene as follows:
- Do NOT cough or sneeze with your mouth open.
- Ensure to cover your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing with a handkerchief, tissue, or into a flexed elbow.
- Dispose of the used tissue immediately in a toilet or clean the handkerchief.
- Do NOT spit anywhere. Ensure to spit in a dustbin or washroom basins with flowing water.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth. If you want to touch your face, eyes, nose and mouth, wash your hands first before touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth. This is because, hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
- 10.You have to stay at home or in the hostel if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Consult a doctor immediately.
- 11.The government has suspended all public gatherings, meetings, religious crusades, sporting events and any form of event that gathers a large number of people.
- 12.The government has suspended all inter-school or inter-university events.
- 13.The government has directed all public transport providers to provide hand sanitizers for their passengers and regular cleaning of the vehicles.
- 14.The government has suspended visits to the prisons.
- 15.The government has directed that; Church services can go on provided they can provide hand sanitizers as people walk into a place of worship.
- 16.The university has suspended all educational trips and students going for clinicals.
- 17.The university has suspended all the student outreach and promotion trips.
- As much as possible avoid going away from UEAB because you may come in contact with the virus and bring it back to our community. Therefore as much as possible let us avoid weekend sign-outs and other interactions with the outside world for the few weeks remaining.
- 19.
- 20.The university has scheduled a meeting of employees on Monday 16-3-2020 at 11:00 AM. All students the same day at 6:00PM in the church.
- 21.Finally, Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17. God’s will will prevail.
The Ministry of Health in a statement on Thursday, March 5, listed 14 counties that were at high risk of registering Coronavirus infections. The ministry explained that these counties were most susceptible to the infection because they were entry points into the country.
Our greatest desire is that learning will not be interrupted so that each one of us can achieve their goals in good time.
Don’t spread panic and lies, pray about this situation, consult the hospital when unwell, and report when someone is unwell and for some reason unable to go to the hospital. Keep listening to announcements from Government through mainstream media and to the University through mainstream media.
God bless Baraton!