DCI Launches Manhunt for Kenyans Behind Coronavirus Fake News

A photo of Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna issuing an update coronavirus at Mbagathi Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna issuing an update coronavirus at Mbagathi Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

The government is looking for the originator of news doing rounds online about a woman who was accused of suffering from Coronavirus.

The government through Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi, announced that the information had been brought to the attention of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for the arrest and prosecution of the individuals involved.

Mwangangi made the announcement at Kenyatta National Hospital where she issued an update on the state of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) patient on March 14, 2020.

"We have taken note of videos doing rounds on social media with fake  information which are aimed at misinforming and causing unncecessary panic. The fake and alarming videos have been forwarded to the DCI for investigations, arrest and prosecution of such individuals," she stated.

A photo of Health CAS Mercy Mwagangi issuing an update on coronavirus at Mbagathi Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Health CAS Mercy Mwagangi issuing an update on coronavirus at Mbagathi Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

She confirmed that there was still one confirmed case of Coronavirus in the country, who continues to undergo treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) in a self-contained room, but is in a stable condition.

The ministry further added that it had traced 22 close contacts who have been quarantined at the KNH Isolation Unit at Mbagathi and that their specimen are undergoing testing at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).

Apart from the 22, the ministry announced that it had managed to track the other 23 passengers of different nationalities who flew in with the patient and had advised them to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days even as the ministry's rapid response team follows upon them every day.

She also announced that the Nairobi County team, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health has fumigated the apartment block where the patient was residening, alongside setting up two counselling centres, one in KNH and another in Mbagathi.

For this, she stated, they had deployed counsellors who were taking care of the needs of the quarantined patients and their families.

Mwangangi further reported that the ministry had set up a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate response efforts and also activated a call centre which can be accessed by dialling 719 and *719# for short messages.

The ministry also announced that relevant stakeholders had been brought on board to help in spreading awareness and cooperate with health officials in the country to stop the coronavirus infection from spreading.

It also warned Kenyans against consuming false information surrounding the virus that is doing rounds over the internet and to instead wait for communication from government-approved communication channels.

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