Coronavirus: U.S. embassy cancels appointments after Kenya confirms first positive case

The United States embassy in Nairobi has cancelled consular appointments after Kenya reported its first positive case.

In a statement released on Friday, the embassy said appointments affected are those from March 16 to March 27.

“In the case of a U.S. citizen in need of emergency assistance, please contact the U.S. Embassy using the contact information below before coming,” the embassy said.

This follows the announcement by the government that all public gatherings, meetings and events have been cancelled.

The embassy further stated that U.S. government personnel are advised to limit non-essential travel.

The Kenyan Government confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country on Friday.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe revealed that the patient is a woman who travelled from the U.S. to Nairobi through London.

She arrived in the country on March 5, 2020 and is believed to have resided in Ongata Rongai before she was hospitalised.

The patient is currently receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

A rapid response team has since been dispatched to Ongata Rongai to retrace the woman’s movements.

The Government has however urged Kenyans not to panic but remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines such as proper hand hygiene and keeping a safe distance from anyone suspected to have symptoms.

Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and difficulty breathing (severe cases).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.