A video showing a group of COVID-19 contacts escaping from the Kenya Medical Training College quarantine center is not only shocking but a revelation of the high level of ignorance from Kenyans and negligence from the government.
The video showing the group of people said to have escaped the KMTC quarantine center has now been said to be fifty (50) in number and had been quarantined with the police currently high on their heels.
Despite different sources citing that the group of escapees from KMTC did so during an evening meal when it began to rain and police officers took cover, the video circulating on social media does not show any rain.
The video shows a group of young men escaping from KMTC by jumping out through the fence and there is fear that the group of Kenyans could be posing the risk of COVID-19 infection to other Kenyans.
The group of fifty escapees from the KMTC quarantine are among those considered to have been highly exposed to COVID-19 and were to be in the facility for 14 days but escaped before the fortnight period had elapsed.
Kenyans in quarantine centers are considered to have been exposed to COVID-19 and are placed in the facility for a fortnight to observe them for any COVID-19 symptoms as that is considered the incubation period and sadly, one can still infect others if indeed they are positive.
Reports are now coming out saying that some of the fifty group of escapees had had their samples taken and were waiting for the results of their COVID-19 status and if positive, then they pose a great danger to everyone they come into contact with and the community at large.
There are also speculations that the fifty KMTC escapees could be among those arrested for defying the curfew and were quarantined for 14 days as ordered by the Ministry of Health.
The Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi warned that those found outside their houses during the curfew period will be considered to have come in contact with those that are likely to be positive for COVID-19 and be placed in mandatory quarantine with more than 500 people so far reported to have been arrested.
“The Ministry of Interior is following up on the KMTC issue and we will be able to update once investigations are undertaken,” Doctor Mwangangi said.
“A person who commits an offense under these rules shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh. 20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both,” the Kenya Gazette Supplement Number 41 reads.
Kenya has 296 coronavirus cases with most of the patients reported to be from Nairobi and Mombasa.