A Chinese working with the Synohydro Corporation, which is tarmacking the Kibwezi-Kitui- Mwingi road, has been isolated for displaying symptoms similar to those of coronavirus.

On Monday evening, Kitui County Chief officer for health and sanitation, Richard Muthoka, confirmed that the Chinese has been quarantined at the company’s site at Mutomo trading centre in Kitui South.

Muthoka said that the patient was among 18 Chinese workers who returned to Kenya recently from vacation in China. He said he was the only one who developed symptoms similar to coronavirus and was isolated by the company manager at a house in the company's Mutomo camp.

“We have received information that he is held in isolation in a house on the company site and cooks have been advised to serve him food through a window,” said Muthoka on phone.

He added that he had dispatched medical personnel from Kitui to Mutomo to try and reach the sick Chinese and draw a specimen for analysis.

“My officers we not allowed into the company site but I have advised them to get security from the Mutomo sub county police headquarters so that they could reach the sick Chinese to get a specimen for testing,” said the County health chief.

Muthoka said health officials were on the ground in Mutomo and advised residents to keep away from the site where the patient has been quarantined.