This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 20, 2020, Kirinyaga County Government confirmed the first positive Covid-19 case in the county.
A 55-year-old male long-distance truck driver, who had travelled from Malaba, tested positive for Covid-19 after taking the test on May 17th at Malaba border.
The driver had proceeded with his journey before the results were out, which should not have been the case.
He was traced to Joymax Maize Milling Factory in Kutus, where he interacted with the gatekeeper and the store's person.
The two people had in turn interacted with other staff at the factory, prompting the county to take swift action.
Two close contacts of the patient were admitted at Kerugoya Referral Hospital isolation centre for observation and immediate testing.
The driver had also contacted one revenue collection officer at Sagana, who was put under quarantine along with another person.
The mill has since been fumigated and closed for four days.
According to Governor Anne Waiguru, a multiagency team responded immediately and evacuated the patient to Kenyatta University Referral Hospital for management.
"All the employees who were on duty at the factory were also put on 14-day quarantine from where our Covid-19 multiagency team will monitor them," she added.
County Health officers are currently tracing other contacts with the aim of isolating them to prevent them from further interaction with the public.
Residents are urged to be calm as the confirmed case was referred to Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, and not admitted in Kirinyaga.
