The new message you will receive from Ministry of Health

Miriam Mwende 12:59 - 06 March 2020

Government contracts Safaricom to send Coronavirus SMS alerts - Health CS Mutahi Kagwe

Governments opts to send SMSs

The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday announced that the government had partnered with Safaricom to start sending SMS alerts on Coronavirus.

CS Kagwe explained that his ministry will be keen to alert Kenyans on the developments of the global pandemic as part of the cautionary measures installed to keep the virus out of Kenya.

"We launched a free [SMS service], we will be sending information for free to your mobile phones under an arrangement we have made with Safaricom so everyone will be getting information about the disease, and what to do [to avoid infection]," the CS explained.

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Moments after the press briefing, members of the public received the SMS alert reading "Kenya Health Ministry will be sending info on CoronaVirus. TOLL FREE Line: 0800721316. Before roaming, Dial *265#, DON'T MISS FREE Tips. Stop *456*9*5."

Mbagathi Coronavirus facility open

CS Kagwe spoke during the official opening of a 300-bed capacity building at Mbagathi Hospital which will be used as an isolation facility for any Coronavirus patients who may be found in Kenya.

The CS also divulged that the government has begun works at the Kenyatta University Referral Hospital for a similar isolation ward.