国际英语新闻:Kenya vows to ramp up measures to curb rising COVID-19 cases

NAIROBI, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan government said Friday it will intensify enforcement measures in an effort to limit the communal spread of COVID-19 amid a surge in cases.

Fred Matiang'i, interior cabinet secretary, said the government will intensify measures without fear or favor to help curb the spread of the disease.

"From the reporting of positive cases today, you can tell all of them have got one characteristic: recklessness and disobedience to the guidelines that have been given by the ministry of health," he said.

The remarks follow the confirmation of 12 new COVID-19 cases on Friday bringing to 246 the total number of confirmed cases in the country.

With Nairobi County leading in the number of infections, Matiang'i said the government has already mapped out key areas where ministry of health guidelines are not being followed, pointing to an increasing risk of growing number of communal contagions.

The Kenyan official was speaking in Nairobi after receiving a donation of 10,000 cotton face masks from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) for use by security officers.

Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai, said the masks will protect police officers who are working in close contact with the public in their line of duty.

"Our officers interact with many members of the public which puts them in danger of contracting the disease. You realize that when our officers become victims, it will be equally a big challenge. I therefore thank KAM for the gesture," he said.

KAM CEO Phyllis Wakiaga said the donation is additional support to what the organization has already been doing to support the security sector in its continued work in the fight against COVID-19.

"When the directive came on having masks as a mandatory measure to mitigate the spread of the disease, some of our members have actually already re-tooled and have started manufacturing the masks locally. These are cloth masks that are reusable which have met the standard that has been prescribed by the Ministry of Health," she said.