Kenya’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday said that two Tanzanians were denied entry into Kenya at the Isibania border point after they tested positive for coronavirus.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman said that the individuals were tested on the Tanzanian side of the border before any further action was taken.
“If you recall yesterday I said that at the border points we are also testing those Tanzanians who want to cross over, but we are testing them while they are still on their soil. Then sharing with them the results of the tests so when they turn out positive, these Tanzanians, because they have tracked through the Tanzanian soil, need to be able to go back for isolation but also for the contact tracing that the Tanzanian authorities need to do,” Aman said.
Cross-border transmission of COVID-19 has emerged as a major risk in the East and Horn of Africa regions with countries taking steps to address the threat.
Kenya has already begun testing of people from Tanzania on their side of the border following a rise in the number of truck drivers who are testing positive for the virus. As a result of this, five Tanzanian truck drivers were found to be positive.
On Monday, the ministry announced that nine Kenyan truck drivers who were returning from Tanzania tested positive for COVID-19. Shortly thereafter, Aman said that the Kenyan government was considering all options, including a possible border closure with Tanzania, to contain the threat of cross-border transmission of COVID-19.
“Every possibility is on the table and up for discussion and when the time comes and it is felt it is necessary, that measure will be taken. That measure will be taken; all these options are on the table being discussed on a daily basis. The triggers, once they are in place, the action will be taken,” Aman said at a press briefing then.
On Tuesday, Kenya reported 15 new COVID-19 cases out of which 14 were Kenyans and one was a Rwandan national. The country has so far recorded a total of 715 cases.
