Bomet: Deceased coronavirus patient buried at night under tight security

A 55-years-old man who tested positive for the new coronavirus was on Wednesday night laid to rest in a burial supervised by medics and the police at Kagawet village in Bomet.

A handful of family members were allowed to witness the burial but were required to maintain a 50-meters distance between them and the grave.

The burial itself took less than 25 minutes and saw police officers secure the site as early as 6pm.

The body was escorted to the village at night by a police vehicle with a blaring siren which cleared the way from the Longisa Refferal Hospital mortuary to the burial site.

Police officers also ensured that no prayer meeting was held or any gathering in the neighbourhood in relation to the funeral.

Bomet county Health Minister Dr. Joseph Sitonik said the graveside will remain under watch for a while despite the fumigation which was conducted as per the regulations.

The 55-year-old patient Ernest Kosgei was admitted to the Longisa County Referral Hospital on May 4 having travelled to Nairobi to seek treatment for diabetes.

The patient however succumbed the following day at around 1pm.

According to reports, samples taken from his body and taken to the KEMRI lab in Kisumu turned positive for COVID-19

16 family members who came into contact with the deceased have since been sent into quarantine at Kaplong Girls with contact tracing of several others currently underway.