This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
On May 9, 2020, residents of Old Town in Mombasa pleaded with police officers to be allowed to walk back to their houses after buying goods at Marikiti market.
According to the latest data, Mombasa recorded 12 new Covid-19 infections from samples taken in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total case load to 226 with 18 deaths recorded.
The new infections were recorded in Mvita Sub-County (8), Likoni (2), and Nyali (2) sub-counties.
County medical authorities resumed targeted testing in Old Town, but on May 10, 2020, no one turned up for testing, despite reports that a Covid-19 positive woman who vanished from the area had surrendered to authorities.
On Saturday, May 9, 2020, the State tightened its blockade of Old Town with more security officers deployed to block all exits and banned hawking and restaurants within the ancient 75-square-kilometre sliver of territory.
Residents of Old Town remain largely indoors, with most people staying away from the testing centre at Kibokoni, where many sat idle or roamed in the alleys without wearing face masks.
County medical authorities announced that 4,726 people had been tested for the Covid-19 virus in the area since the county government launched mass testing on March 9, 2020.
Dr. Khadija Shikely, Mombasa County Chief Medical Officer, said that most Covid-19 patients and deaths are from Old Town, Likoni, and Nyali, with 400 people placed under isolation in various county government facilities.
