Chinese firm in Kenya says suspected coronavirus case a false alarm

Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, a Chinese company operating in Kenya, has dismissed as false the claims made by a section of the Kenyan press about a Chinese national displaying novel coronavirus symptoms in the country's Kitui county.

The company said that the person in question was placed under the 14-day quarantine recommended by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya for all Chinese nationals flying into Kenya from China. 

"The mentioned staff arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 3 pm on 16th Feb. 2020, left the airport by official and right procedures, and then arrived at Kitui at 7 pm to be quarantined," Synohydro Corporation said in the statement. "As requested by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and our company headquarters, all the Chinese staff quarantined in the campsite must wear face masks and have no contact with others for the sake of public health."

According to reports appearing on The Star newspaper in Nairobi, a Chinese national working with the Synohydro Corporation, which is carrying out road construction in Kitui county, has been isolated  for displaying symptoms similar to those of coronavirus. The report quoted Richard Muthoka, the Kitui county chief officer for health, saying that health officials have been dispatched and are on the ground to carry out an investigation.

The rumor about the possible coronavirus case was triggered by an anonymous tip by alleged workers at Synohydro Corporation and was widely shared on social media.

"There is a Chinese man who is the project manager and he has been sneaked into the country from Wuhan China," reads the anonymous note in part.

Synohydro Corp clarified that the individual in question is not from Hubei province in China and welcomed the Kenyan government to send its health officers to monitor the staff quarantined as a result of the Chinese Embassy's precautionary directive.

"The individual in question is from Hebei Province and not Hubei Province in which Wuhan city is located. We welcome Kenyan health officials to examine and monitor the quarantined staff and we will have close communication with the ministry of health for any assistance," Synohydro Corporation said.