Govt Allows Covid-19 Patient to Land in Nairobi

An aeroplane mid-air
An aeroplane mid-air

Kenya has allowed a United Nations member of staff who tested positive for Covid-19 in Juba, South Sudan, to be evacuated to Nairobi.

According to a report carried by the Standard on Friday, April 10, the 53-year-old woman is said to have tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, April 6.

"On Monday, we received an alert from UN Level (I) Clinic and our team was immediately mobilised.

A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

"The Health official said the woman was showing flu-like symptoms on Monday, with a coronavirus test coming back positive this morning," said Dr Angok Gordon, the coronavirus incident chief at the Ministry of Health in South Sudan.

The nationality of the 53-year-old woman is not yet known.

On his part, Transport CS James Macharia stated that the only case that authorities were aware of, was of a UN staffer who travelled to Juba from Nairobi but had requested to be brought back to Kenya.

“This is a different case. This patient has sought to be brought back and Foreign Affairs has to liaise with the Director-General, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, for landing rights,“ Macharia stated.

While asked whether there were South Sudan patients who had been airlifted into the Country, the Transport CS denied there were any.

“For Sudan nationals, they will have to engage the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health. They are the ones who can engage and see if there is a possible way,” he informed.

Kenya banned all it's international flights in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

"All international flights suspended effective Wednesday 25, at midnight," Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced.

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia speaking at KICC on March 17, 2016.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia speaking at KICC on March 17, 2016.
Daily Nation
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