The High Court has ordered all 239 passengers who arrived in Kenya aboard China’s Southern Airline Plane to be quarantined at a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) facility.
The order was issued on Friday.
The respondents (government officials) have been tasked to ensure that the passengers are traced, accounted for, re-examined and then quarantined either at the KDF facility.
Justice James Makau issued the order with a specification all the 239 passengers who were let into the country aboard a Chinese flight which landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on February 26, at 7:29 am be put in isolation.
He said the passengers will remain in quarantine until they are duly certified to be free from coronavirus pending hearing and determination of the matter in the court.
In a similar occasion, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday also issued an Executive Order following the escalating number of coronavirus cases around the world that also pose a risk to Kenya.
According to his statement, Kenya is an international transport hub with 70% of passengers in transit.
“There is a significant threat arising from the potential spread of the coronavirus to Kenya from countries that have new and ongoing outbreaks of the pneumatic disease,” his statement reads.
According to the president, Mbagathi Hospital should be completed and ready to receive patients within seven days from the date of issuing the statement.
All the level 5 and referral hospitals in the country shall be identified and will be prepared in readiness for isolating patients by March 15.
Therefore, the National emergency response committee will be constituted to handle the coronavirus in case of an outbreak.
The committee will include; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Health, Interior, ICT innovation and Youth Affairs, Chief Staff office of the President, among others
