The United Kingdom's military base in Kenya in the town of Nanyuki, which in addition to British soldiers usually houses 550 permanent Kenyan employees and provides work for another 3 000 people on a temporary basis, is in isolation following the discovery of some cases of positivity to the 'British variant' of Covid-19 in the ranks of Her Majesty's Army.
The news was reported by the British High Commission in Nairobi, which confirmed that the new strain of the virus, much more contagious (though less lethal) than the common one, may have been brought to Kenya by some militiamen who arrived at the Nanyuki base camp last week.
"The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) camp has been placed in enhanced isolation after a very small number of soldiers tested positive for Covid-19,' announced the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, without giving precise numbers.
Messages on Twitter suggest that there are currently four soldiers who are positive.
The High Commissioner's Office confirmed that further tests are underway and that the personnel who arrived in Kenya, as well as having been swabbed, have spent a period of isolation at home.
British troops have in fact suspended training activities planned for this week and any other activities within the camp, while Laikipia County health authorities have confirmed that they are providing supervision at Camp Batuk and are in constant contact with the camp which is responsible for preparing the response to any outbreak.