This archive report was first published on 18 April 2020.
On April 18, 2020, a patient died at the Longisa County Hospital ICU in Bomet, sparking a Covid-19 scare.
The patient, who had been undergoing treatment for a reported heart condition, suddenly died while experiencing breathing difficulties and high fever.
Bomet Medical Services and Public Health CEC Joseph Sitonik confirmed that the patient had exhibited Covid-19 symptoms, prompting the quarantine of at least ten medics who came into contact with her.
"We have taken samples for tests in Kisii and quarantined all medics who came in contact with her after she exhibited Covid-19 symptoms," said Sitonik.
Despite the scare, Sitonik called for calm, stating that the tests were yet to confirm if the patient had contracted the coronavirus.
Additionally, a surveillance team had been deployed to the patient's rural home to gather her history and trace other contacts.
"Our Covid-19 surveillance team is also on the ground trying to find out if the woman had received visitors who travelled from hotspots or had travel history," said Sitonik.
Meanwhile, police were searching for 24 people alleged to have sneaked into the county from Nairobi, with County Commissioner Geoffrey Omondi stating that the surveillance team was tracing them as police launch investigations into how they made their way into the county.
