Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has confirmed the first case of the dreaded COVID-19 in Kenya.
According to Kagwe, the victim is a lady who travelled into the country from the US via London on Mar. 5.
She is currently isolated at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Kagwe nevertheless asked Kenyans to go about their business as normal, but to ensure they maintain high levels of handwashing hygiene, and to keep a one-metre distance from anyone coughing or sneezing abnormally.
Kagwe hailed the victim for presenting herself to a health facility when she started feeling unwell, adding that all those who were in close contact with her during the flight to Kenya had been identified and their whereabouts traced.
BREAKING: Mutahi Kagwe: Ministry of health has confirmed the first coronavirus case in Kenya. The Kenyan citizen returning from the US to Nairobi via London on 5th March. She was confirmed positive by the national influenza lab. However, the patient is stable pic.twitter.com/zvcIqywu4U
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 13, 2020
Kagwe announced that the government had effectively banned all public gatherings, adding that church services would be allowed to proceed as usual as long as congregants were provided with hand sanitizers.
He also announced that operators of public service vehicles had been directed to sanitize their vehicles regularly and provide hand sanitizers in all their vehicles.
Further, the CS warned traders against hiking the prices of food and medical supplies, and social media users against propagating alarming propaganda.