Covid-19 Patients Arrested After Daring Escape, 1 Dead

Medical practitioners in protective gear at the Coronavirus Isolation facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Medical practitioners in protective gear at the Coronavirus Isolation facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
KENYANS.CO.KE

Three of the five Covid-19 patients who escaped with their families from Old Town Mombasa on Thursday, May 7, 2020 have been arrested.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata on Friday, May 8, revealed that one other patient had died, while the fifth remains at large.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho revealed that the five had escaped on May 7, while he addressed residents on the first day of the partial lockdown imposed on Old Town.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured with Police Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai in Mombasa on March 15, 2020
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured with Police Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai in Mombasa on March 15, 2020
Twitter

The governor was furious at the five who committed the heinous act and was left puzzled by their decision to disappear, after which he ordered a manhunt for the five and their families.

"I want to pick a particular example, the reports we have is that there are people who were tested positive in the recent 58 cases. 

"There are five who have tested positive and instead of coming to our facilities to get treatment, they decided to take their families and go into hiding, surely who are you helping with such kind of behaviour?

"I have never heard of someone who tested positive when you have the county government, the national government that is telling they will come for you and take you for treatment and those who can't afford will be catered for but you take your family and go into hiding, who does that?"

"You go and hide in your relative's houses or neighbours, what that means, therefore, is that you are also putting other family members at risk," Joho lamented.

Joho had advised that testing positive for the virus was not a death sentence, further urging members of the public to show up for testing and treatment.

Old Town Mombasa was earmarked as Covid-19 hotspot, having recorded six deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in the country as revealed by Governor Joho on Saturday, May 2, 2020.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on May, 5, moved to restrict movement in and out of Old Town, as a measure to curb further spread of the virus in the county.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on April 25, 2020.
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on April 25, 2020.
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