Covid-19 patient escapes isolation centre in Nandi

A Covid-19 positive patient escaped from isolation center where he was being treated in Nandi Hills, Nandi County.

The runaway patient who is said to have been under police custody over a robbery with violence case at Songor police station was diagnosed with the disease last week.

According to health officials, the patient in his mid-thirties was under surveillance before he found his way out of the facility yesterday in the evening between 7 pm and 8 pm.

County Commandant Samson Ole Kinne said that the suspect who is an ex-soldier broke the metallic bed he was chained on the left hand and sneaked out of the facility without the knowledge of medical officers.

“We received the report from the health team at night about 9pm. What is puzzling is the way the patient camouflaged and escaped the facility without the knowledge of nurses,” said the police boss.

He added that three police officers who were manning the patient from outside the facility did not notice the patient’s movement out of the isolation ward.

A health official at the isolation centre said the medical team attached to the facility have been on a go slow over failure by the county government to take care of their welfare.

“Our allowances have not been paid since the Covid-19 cases were announced in the county. We requested for a housing facility while attending to patients but the county has not acquired one for us,” revealed one of the official who requested anonymity.

Committee Executive Member (CEC) in-charge of health Mrs Ruth Koech blamed security lapse stating that police have not been cooperating with the medical team in ensuring proper handling of the Covid-19 patients.

“We gave them our medical recommendation on the security and safety of the patients but there have been no improvements. The suspect is now at large which puts lives of the members of the community at risk of contracting the disease,” she said.

She claimed that the eight detainees who were sharing the cell with the suspect were tested and the results turned negative.

 Mrs Koech added that they were subjected to quarantine for fourteen days where they will be tested before being released.

Mr Kinne said that the police are pursuing the criminal noting that they have received the reports that the patient is in his home, Taunet Village in Tindiret Sub County.

“We have sent the police and probably within 24 hours the patient will be arrested.  The reports from the residents will assist us on tracing his movements,” he said.