Citizen TV news anchor and talk show host Jeff Koinange on Monday revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The prime time news anchor in a post through various social media platforms revealed that he is currently in self isolation while his close contacts have been briefed on his situation.
“Folks, just to let you know, I have tested positive for Covid-19. I am doing Good. No symptoms…and my family is fine. All my close contacts have been informed. Right now I am in self-isolation. Many thanks to Royal Media Services management for its support. Stay safe and God bless!” he tweeted.
Media professionals and politicians immediately sent messages of support to Koinange praying for the former CNN news anchor to get well soon.
Journalists by the nature of their work are prone to contacting COVID-19 over exposure to news sources and crowds while reporting.
Business Today has learnt a huge number of Royalmedia Services (RMS) staff are keeping away from the Communications Centre at Maalim Juma Road being wary of contacting COVID-19. Most of the company’s non-broadcast employees are preferring to work from home.
Besides that, the Communications Centre is relatively a small space compared to the Nation Centre and The Standard Group headquarters on Mombasa Road. The space hosts Citizen TV, Citizen Digital, Viusasa and the company’s avalanche of urban and vernacular radio stations which makes achieving social distancing very difficult.
Despite all the challenges, Royalmedia has put in place measures at the Communications Centre to keep its staff safe including enlisting the services of a medical professional to advise the organisation on all COVID-19 matters, putting sanitation booths at the hq, mandatory temperature checks before accessing the building, issuing social distancing guidelines to all staff and having emergency protocols ready in the event of an occurrence of a case.
However all this did not stop Senior Political Reporter Stephen Letoo from contacting the virus. The reporter on Friday last week revealed that he had contacted the virus and had proceeded to self isolation together with his wife who he had been in close contact with.
Letoo revealed that he did not know he was carrying the virus until he went to get tested at the Nairobi Hospital.
In the same vein, Mediamax was forced to seal one floor last week after one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.
In a memo to all employees, Acting Chief Executive Ken Ngaruiya revealed that the unidentified employee works in the Finance Department. Ngaruiya revealed that the employee showed mild symptoms of the disease before being taken in for treatment.
“Please be informed that one employee in the Finance Department has tested positive for COVID-19 after exhibiting mild symptoms. The employee has already self-isolated in accordance with home-based care guidelines,” the memo dated July 12 read.
Earlier in the month, two staffers at the national broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) tested positive for COVID-19.
Jeff i pray with you for quick recovery..