Seven staff including nurses and doctors at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) have been put under quarantine after coming into contact with a Covid-19 patient.
Confirming the incident, the MTRH CEO, Dr. Wilson Aruasa said the staff were suspected to have come into contact with the patient who was scheduled for surgery.
He said the patient, an 18 year old college student from the sprawling Langas estate was diagnosed with the Corona virus during a routine testing a day before he was to undergo the surgery.
Dr. Aruasa said the hospital staff would be tested after 14 days to ascertain their status and assured members of the public that there was no cause for alarm as the hospital was attending to its clients as usual.
“Residents should not fear to seek medication at MTRH over the incident as all the necessary precautions to ensure their health safety are in place,” said the CEO.
He said the nurses and doctors who came into contact with the patient were well dressed in their personal protective equipment adding that the medical staff at the facility were well trained and were always prepared in case of any eventuality.
He dismissed reports that there was panic at the hospital after the patient tested positive. “There was no panic as is being rumoured and work is going on as usual in all wings at the facility,” he assured.
“While the patient was admitted as he awaited surgery, he did not display any symptoms of Covid-19, but was only found to be positive after testing,” said the CEO adding that 90 of Kenyans who have tested positive for Coronavirus exhibited mild symptoms.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is now within the communities and people should not shy away from seeking medical services from health facilities saying nobody would be denied services just because they have been found to be positive with the virus,” said Dr. Aruasa.
The CEO further explained that contact tracing to find out those who may have come into contact with the patient was going on and the boy’s family has also been put under quarantine.
By Kiptanui Cherono
