British soldiers in Nanyuki on lockdown after some test positive for COVID-19

A few weeks after the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) resumed operations in their Nanyuki base, four of them have tested positive for COVID-19.

This has forced about 320 British soldiers in Nanyuki under Exercise Askari Storm camp to be isolated at the site with 160 of them quarantined in tents.

Exercise Askari Storm camp has two infantry battalions. UK’s army 2nd battalion Mercian personnel are part of those isolating.

According to Mirror, the camp Commander shit down the facility forcing 1,000 to survive on food rations as chefs and local staff were asked to stay away to avoid being infected with the virus.

According to Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MOD), returning soldiers from the UK were split into isolation groups based in their flight arrivals.

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 were quarantined.

So far, there are 1,606 British soldiers on-site with more expected to arrive in the country soon.

A statement from UK’s Defence Ministry indicated that all Batuk forces are taking a COVID-19 test 92 hours before arrival to Kenya.

Each group them isolates for six days to reduce the rate of COVID-19 transmission.

During the six days of isolation after arrival, they are closely monitored for any signs. It is from this model that four of the soldiers tested positive for COVID-19.

Local staff who work in the kitchen and gym have since been asked to stay at home as the camp controls the spread of the virus.

This, they say, is also aimed at protecting Kenyans who live with the local staff. They could be infected.

Disinfection of the camp has been done “deeply” to keep the outbreak under control.

A British Army Spokeswoman said soldiers are currently surviving on rations and tents while another lot is outdoors until the outbreak is put under control.

Once the next group of soldiers arrive in Kenya, they will be isolated and tested again for COVID-19.

Batuk shut last year after the outbreak of coronavirus. All the soldiers returned home in the UK.

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