Kenya warns against all travel to Wuhan

The Kenyan government has warned its citizens against all but essential travel to the virus-hit city of Wuhan, in eastern China.

The move comes as news emerged over the weekend that the new strain of coronavirus first discovered in Wuhan has spread to 10 countries around the world. 

The foreign affairs ministry confirmed it has contacted Kenyans in Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the outbreak, though the city remains on lockdown. 

In a statement released on Monday the ministry said, “The embassy is aware that there are 85 Kenyans in Wuhan who are registered with the embassy and is closely monitoring the situation.”

Those stuck in the city want their government to get them out and have started the Twitter hashtag #KenyansinWuhan to try and garner attention.

“Just disappointment by our country.  Second week now in this ghost city and nothing seems done,” wrote Cornelius Mulili.

Another Kenyan national, Rono Kipkorir tweeted, “The situation here isn’t good.  All our government has done is to give us a press release.  I do not want to describe what we are going through both physically and mentally.”

Kenya’s travel warning comes just days after a suspected case in Ivory Coast was highlighted, though officials have yet to confirm whether the patient contracted coronavirus.

Kenya houses on of Africa’s busiest airports, where all passengers arriving from China are now being screened on arrival.

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