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Rights Groups Deplore Conditions in Kenya COVID Quarantine Facilities

Lenny Ruvaga

   NAIROBI - Kenyan authorities faced a backlash this week after extending
   by two weeks a mandatory quarantine for people held in centers where
   coronavirus has been detected.

   Kenya has quarantined hundreds of arrivals since March to try to curb
   the spread of COVID-19. As of Friday, the country had recorded 189
   cases of the disease and seven deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins
   University Coronavirus Resource Center.

   Rights groups say the government is treating those held in quarantine
   like prisoners, but health authorities say the tough measures are
   needed to prevent the virus from spreading unchecked.

   A signed statement released Tuesday by 24 Kenyan rights groups
   expressed concern after authorities extended the quarantine period. It
   noted that it was not clear how many people were in mandatory
   quarantine in Kenya and how many of those had been tested for the
   virus.

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