22 People Taken to Coronavirus Isolation Centre in Nairobi

22 people have been taken to the coronavirus isolation ward at Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi, the Health Ministry has said.

The 22 are believed to have had close contact with a 27-year-old Kenyan woman who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday night.

A majority of those in isolation are residents of Simba Drive Ole Kasasi estate in Ongata Rongai, where the patient lives. 

“Their specimens are currently being tested at KEMRI laboratories,” said Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi.

Ms. Mwangangi further disclosed that the apartment block where the patient resides was fumigated by a joint team from the Health Ministry and Kajiado County.

“We have also set up two counseling centers, one in KNH and another in Mbagathi and deployed counselors who are to take care of the quarantined patients and their families,” she said.

The ministry also disclosed it traced all the 23 people of mixed nationalities who traveled on the same flight with the patient and advised them to self-quarantine for 14 days.

 “The Ministry’s rapid response team will follow them up on a daily basis until the 14 days are over,’’ Dr. Mwangangi said.

She further affirmed that only one case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the country.

The woman arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from the United States on March 5th. She later felt unwell and took herself to the hospital and a test done at the National Influenza Lab in Nairobi on Thursday night confirmed she had been infected with Covid-19.

The patient is said to have traveled from Ohio, where she is a student, to Chicago from where she flew to Nairobi via London. 

She is presently receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) and is in stable condition.