Twelve Chinese nationals who attempted to enter Kenya through Tanzania-Kenya border in Lunga-Lunga, Kwale County were on Tuesday, March 17 ordered back to Tanzania as the Kenyan Government steps measures to avert new coronavirus infections.

The 12 were accompanied by three Tanzanian immigrants namely Saidi Seif, Hassan Mohammed Makolo and Wema Ramadhani Muambeya.

Port Health officer in charge, a Mr Murage, and Lunga-Lunga border point immigration officer in charge, a Mr Kiambati, said that the 15 were seeking clearance to enter Kenya at 8:30am Tuesday.

“On interrogation, they said they were going for special assignment at the Mombasa Bamburi Cement Company Limited. It was established that the immigrants had not met COVID-19 guideline of 14 days self-quarantine in the country of origin since they arrived in Tanzania from China on March 4 and March 16, 2020,” says a police report filed at Lunga-Lunga Police Station.

“All of them were denied entry into the country on observation of the COVID-19 prevention guidelines. They were escorted back to Tanzanian point of entry at Horohoro,” added the report filed under OB Number 5/17/3/2020.

The 12 Chinese nationals include: Xiao Zhanquan who arrived in Tanzania on March 8, 2020; Xu Shaul whose arrival date was also March 8; Xu Duo who entered Tanzania on March 16. Others who arrived in Tanzania on March 16 include: Lyu Xiaohua, Zhou Changyong, Jiang Chunyang, Shang Deyuan and Yang Yubiao.

Xiao Zhanquan, Wang Xiaoba, Huabg Honghui arrived in the East African country on March 8. Another Chinese national Cao Bingwang entered Tanzania on January 19, 2020.

This comes on the back of the fourth confirmation of coronavirus case in Kenya.

As at the time of publishing this story, 199, 309 people world-over were confirmed to have contracted the virus. Out of this number, 7, 994 died, whereas 82, 783 recovered.

Worldometers.info says there are 108, 532 active cases currently, with 102, 115 (94 per cent) victims reporting mild sickness, whereas 6, 417 (6 per cent) are in critical condition.

Hardest-hit countries include: China (80,894), Italy (31,506), Iran (16,169), Spain (11,826), and Germany (9,367).

South Korea (8,4123), France (7,730), USA (6,524), Switzerland (2,742) and the United Kingdom (1,950) are among the world’s top ten most affected countries.