Health experts posted to Coast border points to control spread

Coast Region Police Commander Rashid Yakub 

All entry points at the Coast have been secured as the country tries to keep at bay the deadly coronavirus, authorities say. 

The areas of concern being closely monitored include, Lunga Lunga One-stop post, Taita Taveta, Moi International Airport, Kenya Ports Authority and Manda airstrip in Lamu County.

Coast Region Police Commander Rashid Yakub said a multi-agency team was activated soon after the first coronavirus case was reported in Kenya on Friday, and is working closely with health officers.

He said Coast region, due to its vastness, received a boost from health experts who had undergone vigorous training to tackle the spread and had already been dispatched to various areas. 

The police boss said the two largest and critical facilities - Prisons Manyani and Shimo la Tewa - received the health experts who are carrying out tests and also offering tips to inmates and officials.

''We activated the multi-agency team soon after the Ministry of Health confirmed presence of the virus in Kenya. Our multi-agency team is working closely with health officials deployed to the region from the headquarters,'' said Yakub, adding that masks and detergents have been provided by the government.

He said meetings and gatherings in the said facilities had been cancelled, with officers manning them put under firm instructions.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe confirmed presence of the viral disease in the country on Friday. The female patient, the government said, travelled back to Nairobi from the US via London, United Kingdom on March 5, 2020.