KAMPALA – Kenya has confirmed nine more coronavirus cases, meaning the country now has 25 patients with Covid-19.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, confirmed that nine more patients had tested positive for the virus.
He said that seven of these are Kenyan nationals and two are foreigners.
Kagwe revealed that the new cases were spread out across four counties namely: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale.
Kagwe also said that 15 people are currently at Mbagathi Isolation Unit awaiting their test results.
Kagwe admitted that there are quarantine challenges in designated hotels and government facilities, but said the process will soon be streamlined.
Travelers are taken for mandatory quarantine but Kenya is unable to handle the huge numbers.
The health minister said some 98 people have been discharged after completing the two-week quarantine while 745 are being monitored.
He urged travelers to bear with measures taken by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Other measures will be introduced to ease the process and end inconvenience to passengers.
Some 25,000 testing kits were today received from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, he said.
Mandatory testing for all travelers arriving in Kenya will be fast-tracked.
The country is looking for fast-testing kits and was in talks with the Chinese government, said Kagwe.
“We are looking to supplement production in masks, uniform and other gear,” he said.
Starting Wednesday, the government will announce further measures on what will be done to stop the spread.
He denied claims that the Frenchman who was initially admitted was in a critical condition adding that all patients were stable.
Coronavirus cases have so far reached 394,825 globally. Kenya has not reported any deaths.
Kagwe criticised residents who do not observe the measures advised such as social distancing.
Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi have been listed as having extra exposure.
But Kagwe said more resources have been channeled to the four counties to beat the virus spread.
Managers of hotels set up as quarantine centres have further been urged to not hike their prices, with the CS saying it is immoral.
“Exercise patriotism and generosity so we don’t add salt to injury.”
Kenya Airways on Tuesday offered complimentary tickets to Kenyan citizens from New York to Nairobi, being its last temporary flight from America following the outbreak of Covid-19.
KQ announced on Monday that it will give complimentary one-way tickets to Kenyan citizens from JF Kennedy Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday 6 am American time.
The tickets were given on Tuesday on a first come first serve basis.
All passengers were subjected to entry and screening procedures instituted by Kenya’s Ministry of Health.
KQ temporarily suspended all international passenger services effective on Wednesday until further notice.
The national airline continues to operate cargo flights particularly to offer emergency services and much-needed supplies.
