Kenya is still at grave risk even as the country anxiously awaits preliminary test results from a patient suspected to be infected with the highly contagious novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Although the Ministry of Health on Thursday tried to reassure the public that the situation was under control, it elicited little confidence as health experts said the government was not doing enough to protect its citizens.

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said that the results were yet to be processed. Meanwhile, the patient (who is said to be in a stable condition) admitted with flu-like symptoms will remain in isolation.

As of Thursday, the country was still waiting to know the results even as Ms Kariuki insisted that the country had the capacity to carry out the tests.

“The fact that we sent a set of samples does not mean we lack the capacity. We sent the samples to South Africa for a second opinion,” Ms Kariuki said.