A public health official in Naivasha check temperatures of a passenger using the Nairobi-Nakuru highway as part of the measures meant to contain the spread of the Covid-19 disease. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]
The department of public health has expressed concern over the high number of young women fleeing from Nairobi to Naivasha despite the restriction of movement in and out of the capital city.
Nairobi has the highest number of coronavirus infections, with 212 out of the more than 300 cases in the country.
As a result, the department said it has been forced to seek out the fleeing suspects and subject them to screening and testing for Covid-19 following tip-offs from the public.
In the last one week, three people, including a college student, have been arrested and placed in quarantine after members of the public exposed them.
SEE ALSO: South Africa confirms first case of coronavirusThe student had travelled from Mombasa, while a flower farm worker had sneaked into Naivasha from Nairobi in search of a casual job.
According to a senior public health officer in Naivasha and who asked not to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the press, they were getting calls every day over people fleeing from Nairobi.
The officer said a majority of suspects were women returning to their rural homes following the hard socio-economic times caused by the pandemic.
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“In the last two days, we have placed three patients in isolation at the Naivasha Girls Secondary School,” he said.
Security officers have mounted an extra roadblock along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway near Raini centre in Naivasha to help nab those fleeing from the city.
SEE ALSO: Liverpool put child mascots on hold over coronavirus fears
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