This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 4, 55-year-old Ernest Kosgei was admitted to the Longisa county Referral Hospital after traveling to Nairobi in pursuit of diabetes treatment.
Tragically, he passed away the following day at around 1 pm.
According to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu, a sample from his remains tested positive for COVID-19 in their lab.
As a result, the Ministry of Health commenced tracing of close contacts and placed 16 family members in mandatory quarantine at the Kaplong High School.
Additionally, one person who traveled with the deceased on the same day remains untraced.
On the same day, Health Ministry Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth announced that hospitals will force citizens seeking medication to be tested for COVID-19.
Dr. Amoth stated, "It is likely that when an asymptomatic case is admitted to hospital, they may spread the virus to the healthcare workers or other patients in the ward, we need to be able to protect those people."
He further emphasized that all patients seeking admission in health facilities will undergo mandatory testing to protect frontline health workers and other patients.
