Police searching for 50 people reported to have escaped from quarantine at KMTC

Police are searching for 50 people who are said to have escaped from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Nairobi where they in quarantine.

Also Read: Kenyans who bribed their way out of Mandera quarantine facility to be charged

Citizen TV established that they were having their evening meal when it started to rain and they saw security officers guarding the premises take cover.

They reportedly took advantage of the situation and jumped out through the fence.

There are fears that they could pose a risk to other Kenyans following the government’s directive that anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 be isolated for 14 days.

Unknown people caught on video scaling the wall of the Kenya Medical Training College quarantine center on Mbagathi Road, Nairobi pic.twitter.com/cXx71P4WXu

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2020

They were to remain at KMTC under observation for health officials to monitor if any symptoms developed.

Reports indicate that some of them were still waiting for their COVID-19 test results after samples were taken to the lab.

On Tuesday, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi affirmed that they had received reports of the escape.

“The Ministry of Interior is following up on the KMTC issue and we will be able to update once investigations are undertaken,” she said.

So far, Kenya has 296 coronavirus cases with most of the patients reported to be from Nairobi.

Also Read: Kenyans quarantined at KU, JKUAT, KMTC get 14 more days for having ‘interactions’

Meanwhile in Uasin Gishu County, 92 people were arrested for not adhering to social distancing guidelines and will now be forced into mandatory quarantine.

They also risk being charged with contravening the new regulations that require one to maintain a physical distance of not less than a metre from the next person when in a public area.

“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 No 41 reads.

Last week, CAS Mwangangi warned that those found outside their houses during the curfew period will be assumed to have been in contact with suspected coronavirus patients and will be placed in mandatory quarantine.

Also Read: Concerns rise over state of quarantine facilities in Kenya