Government advises Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak

Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak

Mumbi Mutuko

February 7, 2020 12:27 PM

Leave China- Gov't tells Kenyans

Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak

The Government has advised Kenyans in China to consider leaving the Coronavirus hit country due to infection risk and travel restriction hardships.

On Wednesday the government stated it was prepared to evacuate Kenyan citizens from China, where the Coronavirus outbreak has claimed over 400 people.

Health administrative secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi told lawmakers there are plans to evacuate 85 students who are stranded in China’s Wuhan city, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant communication with the 85 Kenyan students,” Mwangangi said.

Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak Pulse Live Kenya

Wuhan lock-down

“We have identified two holding rooms at JKIA [Kenya’s main international airport] and set up isolation facility at the Kenyatta Hospital. Additional satellite isolation facilities have been earmarked for Nairobi county,” she added.

It is not clear how long the Wuhan lockdown will last, but several countries have been evacuating their citizens from the city.

The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has issued a directive for employers who are expecting the return of workers from the holiday break.

Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak Gov't tells Kenyans to leave China amid Coronavirus outbreak Pulse Live Kenya

“…all Chinese companies in Kenya to quarantine their employees returning from China for 14 days no matter they have symptoms or not," the statement read in part.

Kenya will also evacuate its students trapped in Wuhan, the Chinese epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

Mumbi Mutuko