Chaos in East Africa amid new Coronavirus measures

Chaos has marked the implementation of tough quarantine measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus in East Africa.

As cases of the virus continue to rise in the region, countries have put in place stringent measures including suspension of international flights as well as restrictions on social gatherings.

In Uganda, two Chinese nationals will appear in court later on Tuesday after they fled from an isolation facility where they were supposed to self-quarantine for two weeks.

In Kenya, more than 600 people were left stranded after state-appointed hotels and isolation centres ran out of space.

Passengers who arrived on Tuesday said they were frustrated after being driven around the city since dawn with no accommodation available.

Kenya's Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe acknowledged the logistical challenges and apologised for the inconveniences at a press briefing on Monday

In Ethiopia, which has closed all its land borders, arriving passengers are being accommodated in two state-run hotels but many say they cannot afford the rates.

The mayor of the capital, Addis Ababa, has promised to pay the fees for all Ethiopians.

So far, Rwanda is the only country in the region to announce a total lockdown in a bid to tackle the virus, but with the number of Coronavirus cases rising, other countries could follow suit.