Five more Siaya mourners expecting coronavirus results

Siaya Kenya Medical Training College in Bondo. The facility is being used as a quarantine facility. [File, Standard]

Five people who travelled by bus from Nairobi with the body of a woman who died of Covid-19 are in quarantine at Siaya Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

Seven others were on Thursday confirmed to be positive with the coronavirus by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

The 12 had accompanied the body of a woman who died at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. She was on Friday night, May 15, brought to Lela village in Simur, Ugenya for burial.

The woman is the second Covid-19 victim to be interred in Siaya County. Her burial was witnessed by a few people, including the sub-county security team.

CS Kagwe said the seven who had caught the virus were traced from Kibra, Nairobi and had travelled to Ugenya.

"It is sad that someone signed the document that allowed mourners to travel all the way. There is a reason for cessation (of movement). This vehicle was inspected by police all the way from Kibra to Siaya," lamented the health minister.

Siaya County Commissioner Michael Ole Tialal confirmed that the five in quarantine were awaiting results.

Another two people, Tanzanian nationals, are also in quarantine at Siaya KMTC.

They were arrested for illegally gaining entry into the county and placed on mandatory quarantine.

The two Tanzanians have already undergone the first coronavirus test and awaiting the second test.

Mr Tialal said once they are released from quarantine they will be charged at the courts.

The County Commissioner also confirmed that the isolation unit in Bondo, which was under construction, was ready after its completion with a capacity to hold ten patients. 

Siaya executive member in charge of Health Dorothy Owino told Standard Digital that the seven who tested positive are already at the isolation unit in Bondo sub county hospital.