Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has said dozens of people who were filmed escaping from mandatory quarantine in the capital, Nairobi, will be arrested and returned to finish their isolation period.
The president spoke on Wednesday morning, just hours after the video was shared online. It showed some people jumping over a perimeter wall at one of the quarantine centres.
Local media reports placed the number of those who escaped at 50, but the government has not confirmed the figure.
President Kenyatta said the government knew the identities of all those who had escaped and would arrest and take them back to the quarantine centre.
On Tuesday evening, the health ministry had said that police were investigating the escape.
Kenya's Citizen TV station said the breakout took place during a meal when it started raining and guards took cover from the rain.
The Daily Nation newspaper tweeted a video of some people jumping down the wall:
Spotted: Kenyans under quarantine at KMTC Mbagathi escape pic.twitter.com/wlGwH3EY4h
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) April 21, 2020
More than 400 people are under forced quarantine, some for flouting curfew orders and drinking despite the closure of bars.
Others have been quarantined after arriving in the country before the ban on international flights came into effect. Their quarantine period was extended after the ministry said that some isolation centres had not ensured social distancing.
Those in the centres have complained about poor hygiene conditions, saying they are more likely to contract the virus there.
Latest Stories
-
Court remands unemployed over theft of ECG property
8 seconds -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
2 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
3 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
12 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
14 mins -
CBG records GH¢1bn revenue in Q3
16 mins -
Mahama vows to create an agro-processing zone in Afram Plains
30 mins -
Political parties should plan for losses, not just wins – IGP advises
32 mins -
524 Diasporan Africans granted Ghanaian citizenship in ceremony
34 mins -
Mahama urges Afram Plains North residents to avoid ‘skirt and blouse’ voting
36 mins -
Asantehene receives more 19th century gold ornament and regalia
43 mins -
Hohoe Ghana Blind Union organises training for members ahead of Election 2024
49 mins -
Alan Kyerematen reveals his future plans for Ghanaian Health professionals
50 mins -
AAIN empowers women and small enterprises in Upper East Region through SHINE project
51 mins -
Akufo-Addo leads nationwide commissioning of 80 educational projects
57 mins