Wednesday May 6, 2020
NAIROB (HOL) - Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate will from today be put on lockdown as the Kenyan government moves in to curb the fast spread of COVID-19 in the Somali populated suburb.
Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe announced Wednesday Eastleigh and Old Town in Mombasa will come under lockdown with effect today 7pm.
"You cannot leave the area to go to another area. This will take place for 15 days," Kagwe said.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Eastleigh and Old Town have increased rapidly in the last few days. Of the 29 cases recorded in Nairobi Tuesday, all of them were from Eastleigh.
"This is to protect those within those areas. If you have a colleague in Eastleigh don’t let them come to stay with you if they have not taken a test," the minister said.
The lockdown will last for 15 days the minister added noting the government will from today henceforth career for the cost of quarantine in state facilities.
More than 80 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Eastleigh.
Kenya recorded 47 cases Wednesday bringing to 582 the number of total cases. Out of this, 190 people have recovered.