Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati on Thursday March 19, 2020 suspended all County operations in the County as part of the efforts to stop spread of Coronavirus.

According to Governor Wangamati, only the Departments of Health, Finance and Office of the Governor shall remain open from tomorrow Friday, March 20, 2020.

Speaking in Mabanga in a meeting that briefed senior officers of the Provincial Administration on a raft of measures to stave the threat of Coronavirus, Governor Wangamati said he had suspended all County operations except strictly essential services.

“Henceforth, unless otherwise called upon, all County employees in departments other than the three shall work from home,” Governor Wangamati directed.

The Governor also banned all market days in the County for the next 30 days.

Governor Wangamati said only markets serving small communities and neighbourhoods will be allowed to operate.

Addressing a sitting that was also attended by the County Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan, Governor Wagamati also directed that any burials in the County take place in under 24 hours.

He also said such burials shall provide running water and soap to all those in attendance.

The Governor also suspended all church functions including weddings, night prayers and crusades.

He called on the residents to remain vigilant, lookout for the following signs and seek immediate medical help from the nearest medical facility in need be:

• Dry Coughing

• Sneezing

• High Fever

• Breathing difficulties

• General body pains

Further, residents are called upon to observe the instructions of health officials.

Particularly;

• Wash your hands with soap regularly – at least for 20 seconds at every given moment with soap and running water.

• Practice high level of personal hygiene

• Avoid the shaking of hands and hug

• Avoid any body contact – always keep at least a metre from the next person.

• Avoid public gathering of whatever kind. Keep off weddings, churches, and keep burials short and small.

• Avoid partaking of any cold food or drinks

• Avoid unnecessary movements

• Practice etiquette while in public, like ensuring you sneeze or cough into a handkerchief of folded arm.

• Ensure to sanitize shared facilities.

• Adhere to instructions and advice given by authorities.

• All public facilities from hotels to malls are directed to provide running water and soap for public use.