NAIROBI/BUSIA — Kenya has announced that coronavirus cases have hit 296 after 15 tested positive of the novel virus.
Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi stated that 545 samples had been tested in the last 24 hours.
7 of the new cases are male while 8 are female Kenyan nationals.
The Health CAS also announced that 5 patients have recovered and discharged bringing the number of recoveries to 74.
The patients who’ve tested positive are between the ages of 19-75 years of age.
CAS Mwangangi stated that 6 of the patients were from quarantine centres and 9 were picked up from different locations.
The busy border town of Busia is currently facing a nightmare scenario in regard to potential exposure to COVID-19.
A statement issued by the Kenya’s County Governor Sospeter Odeke Ojaamong, on April 20, highlighted Ugandan citizens and truck drivers as two major threats that need to be addressed with utmost urgency.
“The Busia County Covid-19 Committee held a meeting with County leaders to deliberate on various issues regarding Coronavirus pandemic, among them was the influx of Ugandans and other foreigners from Uganda into Kenya through porous borders is worrying, security apparatus should ensure that is stopped with immediate effect,” Ojamoong stated.
He wondered why despite the closure of Kenya and Uganda border, citizens from the latter have continued to cross the border through Panya routes to hawk their goods in Busia.
“The Ugandan government has barred Kenyans from crossing into Uganda, we are very lenient to Ugandans who are allowed to stream into the country with impunity, less oblivious of the COVID-19 pandemic which is ravaging the world,
Despite this, Ugandan authorities announced that they would dump Kenyans who tested positive to Covid-19 on the Kenyan side of the border,” he lamented.
He went on to express his fears that the congestion of trucks at the border town was a disaster waiting to happen, terming it as the biggest threat to the fight against the spread of the infectious virus.
“The county still faces Covid-19 threats from truck drivers who come from counties which have tested positive to the vice.
He announced that any undocumented Ugandan captured on the Kenyan side of the border would be placed under forced quarantine.
