This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 17th, a long-distance driver traveled from Juba, South Sudan to a flour factory in Kutus town, Kirinyaga County, marking the first coronavirus case in the area.
The driver, who had brought a consignment of maize in a trailer from Southern Sudan via Uganda, Malava, Busia, and into Kirinyaga, Kutus, had been tested along the route but the results had not been released.
However, upon arrival at the factory, the driver was intercepted and it was established that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Peter Irungu, a clinical officer in charge of COVID-19 monitoring in Kirinyaga East Sub County, the driver had fallen ill, likely due to shock, upon receiving the news of his positive test result.
The driver has since been isolated for treatment at Kerugoya County Hospital, while all the people who are suspected to have come into contact with him are being traced to be quarantined.
A young man who had offered a lift to the driver from Nakuru was also traced and taken into an isolation ward at the same hospital for observation.
Factory staff who had interacted with the victim for a while were listed down and ordered to proceed on compulsory quarantine for 14 days.
Following the development, the factory has been closed down to enable the area public health officers to fumigate the facility.
Residents of Kutus town are urging the government to tighten the nuts and lock out those coming in from other countries.
By Irungu Mwangi
