A s the Covid-19 crisis continues, a new report suggests that it will be hard to control the spread of the virus in low-income areas.

The report, "Covid-19 Global Pandemic in Nairobi’s Low-Income Areas: Health, Socio-Economic and Governance Aspects", notes:

“The highest levels of concern with exposure to the virus are expressed with regard to public areas, but even being at home or in the immediate residential area is seen as risky, presumably a reflection of the high population densities among this section of Nairobi’s population.”

This reality has driven up anxiety levels, with 71 per cent of respondents being “very worried” about contracting Covid-19.

The report also notes that the imposition of travel restrictions on Nairobi residents – whether they were at home or outside this area at the time – has had both social and economic impact, directly affecting 69 per cent of respondents and their households.

When asked what they thought was the “most helpful” response to the virus crisis, more than half said that they would rather be given cash handouts as opposed to food, which was rated as most helpful by 39 per cent of the respondents.