The Ministry of Health has confirmed a Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Nairobi. The case, which was confirmed on the 12th March 2020, is the first one to be reported in Kenya since the beginning of the outbreak in China in December 2019.
The case is a Kenyan citizen who travelled back to Nairobi returning from the United States of America via London, United Kingdom on the 5th March 2020. She was confirmed positive by the National Influenza Centre Laboratory at the National Public Health Laboratories of the Ministry of Health. The patient is clinically stable, and is being managed at the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
The Lady is now stable and behaving quite normally. There is no need for alarm. The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health, continues to strengthen measures to ensure no further transmission of the disease in Kenya. The National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus preparedness and response will continue to provide strategic leadership working through whole Government approach to respond to this case in the implementation of mitigation measures.
I wish to assure all Kenyans that we have been beefing up our preparedness capacities since the first confirmed cases in China. The Government will use all the available resources to respond to this case.
The Government has traced all the contacts of the patient since her arrival in Kenya. Kenyans are reminded that most people who become infected may experience only mild illness and recover easily, but the disease can be more severe in others, especially the elderly and persons with other chronic illnesses.
Considering that the disease has now been classified as a pandemic we are taking precautionary measures.
All Kenyans should observe the following:
- Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (5 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Persons with a cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance, but avoid mixing with others in a crowd.
- Maintain good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing with a handkerchief, tissue, or into flexed elbow.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing.
- Suspend all public gatherings, meetings, religious crusades games events etc. Normal church services can go on provided they provide sanitizing/and hand washing.
- Suspend all inter – school events, but keep schools open.
- Public transport providers are directed to provide hand sanitizers for their clients and regular cleaning of the vehicles.
- Temporary suspension of prison visits for the next 30 days.
- Kenyans must not abuse social media platforms or indulge in spreading misinformation that can cause fear and panic.
- Travel restrictions outside the country unless absolutely necessary and no travel to disease Epicenter countries.
- Dissemination of information on daily basis.
We have embarked on a contract tracing for all persons who have been in contact with her. We have sent a rapid response team to Ongata Rongai area where she lives for that purpose. There should be no panic.
These measures will remain in force for 30 days.
The Ministry of Health will continue to provide regular updates and further communication will follow from the respective government agencies.
