Kenya has confirmed its first coronavirus case, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has announced.
” I would like to inform Kenyans that the Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of Coronavirus in Kenya. The case was confirmed on Thursday, the 12th at night and is the first case to be reported in Kenya since the beginning of the outbreak in China
“The case is a Kenyan citizen who traveled back to Nairobi from the United States via London on March 5. She was confirmed positive by the National Influenza Laboratory at the National Health laboratory at The Ministry of Health,” said CS Kagwe.
He said the patient is currently at the Kenyatta National Hospital and the government has traced everyone that she came into contact with.
Kagwe said that the patient is stable and will not be discharged until she is declared negative
“What we have is a coronavirus positive test. There is no cause for alarm, continue with regular activities,” CS Kagwe said.
CS Kagwe also confirmed that the government has suspended all public gatherings, meetings, religious crusades, sporting events and any form of event that gathers a large number of people.
“Normal more church services can go on provided they can provide hand sanitizers as people walk into a place of worship,” said CS Kagwe.
”We have suspended all public gatherings meetings, games, events, church crusades. Churches can have services as long as they have sanitizer,” he added.
Kagwe has also advised Kenyans showing corona like symptoms including coughing or sneezing to stay at home and avoid crowds.
The government has also suspended all inter-school events as well as prison visits for the next 30 days.
Schools will, however, remain open.
“Kenyans must refrain from misinformation on social media platforms or indulge in acts that will place fear. We have placed travel advisories on epicenter countries. Businesses should have thermal scanners,” said CS Kagwe.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said all public transport operators will be required to provide hand sanitizers for their clients and clean their vehicles regularly.
He said the government will be conducting training at bus stops from 10 am to 4 pm that will involve all bus drivers, matatu drivers and conductors.
“Public transport carries the vast majority of our people, more than 90 percent. That is why we are giving it special focus,” said CS Macharia.
