Coronavirus Leaves the Busy JKIA Deserted [PHOTOS]

The coronavirus pandemic appears to have turned the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) into a ‘ghost’ airdrome if photos shared on social media are anything to go by. JKIA is the busiest airport in East Africa and acts as the region’s travel hub.

Images posted on Twitter on Sunday by Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo showed a nearly completely deserted JKIA without the usual flurry of activities.

“I’ve never seen JKIA Nairobi this deserted,” Madowo captioned the photos.

The outbreak of the dreaded disease has forced many international airlines to cancel flights with many governments banning travelers from countries that have confirmed cases. 

On Sunday, Kenya announced travelers from Covid-19-hit countries will be denied entry for the next 30 days to prevent the spread of the virus. This came after the number of confirmed cases in the country increased to three.

At least 159 countries and territories have recorded cases of the virus that originated in China’s Wuhan city late last year. The global death toll currently stands at 6,485 while the number of infections has surged to 167,809. 76,598 patients have recovered from the virus.

China is the most affected with 80,849 cases and 3,199 deaths followed by Italy with 24,747 infections and 1,809 fatalities while Iran is third with 13,938 cases and 724 deaths.

South Korea is fourth followed by Spain, Germany, France, USA, Switzerland and the UK.

Over 20 African countries have confirmed cases. They include Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Togo and DRC.

Others are Ethiopia, Gabon, Sudan, Mauritania, Namibia, Rwanda and South Africa.