Kenya suspends all public gatherings over coronavirus, bans government employees from travelling

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Kenya suspends all public gatherings over coronavirus, bans government employees from travelling

3:24 CAT | 13 Mar 2020

Kenya is the 11th country in sub-Saharan Africa to confirm a case of COVID-19 [Njeri Mwangi/Reuters]

The Kenyan government has suspended all public gatherings following the confirmation of the country’s first case of coronavirus.

The minister of health, Mutahi Kagwe, said church services will continue but churches must provide hand-sanitisers.

Mr Kagwe said schools will remain open but there will be no inter-school activities.

He added there should be “no cause for alarm” but urged for “serious citizen responsibility”.

The health minister said rapid-response units will be dispatched to respond to any suspected cases in the country.

He urged member of the public to observe personal hygiene, and transport operators to regularly clean their vehicles.

Kenya’s NTV tweeted a video of part of the minister’s statement:

Schools will remain open but interschool activities have been suspended. Prison visits have also been suspended for the next 30 days. – Mutahi Kagwe#coronavirusinKenya pic.twitter.com/vKDfuTf5vf

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) March 13, 2020

Travel ban

Kenya’s government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna announced a ban on Thursday of all non-essential travel by public servants and advised citizens not to travel to avoid contracting coronavirus.

Mr Oguna also said the government was still implementing a self-isolation requirement for Kenyans and other travellers arriving from affected countries.

He said the new directives were issued after President Uhuru Kenyatta had met the committee established to co-ordinate preparations for the possible spread of coronavirus.

Here is the government spokesperson’s statement:

Press Statement:
Government preparedness and response progress towards #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/AZ6uFmA2gW

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) March 12, 2020