At least eight relatives of a 45-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 in Homa Bay have been quarantined.
Homa Bay health and security officers seized them at Mukuyu village of Suba South constituency on suspicion that they came into contact with the woman.
They include three females and four males, three adult sons and an eight-year-old niece, and a five-month-old grand-daughter.
The woman is suspected to have contracted the virus at a funeral at Shirati in Tanzania.
It is reported that the woman crossed into Tanzania to attend a funeral of her uncle who lived at Shirati and sneaked back after staying there for two weeks.
Speaking to KNA on Saturday, Homa Bay County Health Executive Committee Member Richard Muga said the woman returned in the night of May 5 on a boda boda.
“Concerned residents reported the matter to local authorities who in turn took her to Homa Bay KMTC for quarantine,” Muga said.
Prof Muga added that they began contact tracing for more people who might have come into contact with the woman.
He said health surveillance officers are already on the ground in Suba South.
“We have nabbed eight close family members of the woman who tested positive. Their samples have been taken for tests at Kemri in Kisumu,” Muga said.
The woman has already been taken to Malela Covid-19 isolation centre in Ndhiwa constituency.
The CEC said she is undergoing treatment among other medical tests.
“The woman becomes the second person who was taken to the isolation unit after testing positive,” he added.
At the same time Muga urged residents to cooperate with officers to help get suspected people who came in contact with the woman for quarantine.
“Residents should not fear coming out when they suspect they have the virus. Covid-19 is not a death sentence,” he said.
Meanwhile Suba South DCC Joseph Maina has said they have intensified surveillance at the entry points to curb the spread of the virus.
“We’re working closely with residents to ensure we adhere to nyumba kumi initiative. It helps us flush out strangers,” Maina said.
By Dan Oduor and Davis Langat
