The Government has unveiled new strict measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
These include:
- All entertainment, bars and other social spaces to close their doors to the public by 7.30pm every day from Monday until further notice. They were also directed to limit the number of people in their premises.
- All supermarkets to limit the number of shoppers inside their premises at any given time. They have been encouraged to operate for 24 hours as security will be provided.
- Open-air markets including vegetable, mitumba and areas where public bazaars are held to be disinfected regularly by local management to maintain high standards of hygiene.
- The County Government to prioritize garbage collection and cleanliness of all markets. Also, ensure the provision of soap and clean water.
- Corporations and businesses encouraged to allow employees to work from home. Those working in the office to adhere to social distancing.
- Manufacturers and industries directed to operate using a minimum workforce on a 24-hour rotation system so as to ensure compliance with social distance requirements and logistics of public transport for workers.
- Kenyans directed to stay at home unless on essential business.
- Public Service Vehicles to observe hygiene and social distance of 1.5 metres (14 seater matatus to carry a maximum of 8 passengers, 25-seater vehicles to carry a maximum of 15 and 30-seater vehicles and above to maintain the capacity of 60 per cent).
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to release seized ethanol for the manufacture of sanitizers that will be distributed for free.
- All public and private hospitals to restrict patient visitation to family and relatives of the patients. “Such persons will be allowed access for purposes of facilitating specific requests pertaining patients care among them blood/organ donation, payment of bills, discharge of patients.”
- All travelers coming to the country now restricted to Kenyans and only foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed in and must self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Friday announced that it had transferred Sh7.4 billion to the Government Consolidated Fund, in support of the fight against the deadly virus.
In a statement, CBK said the money totaling to Sh7,387,674,000 was the collection from the demonetisation exercise concluded last year in September.
And as the coronavirus fight intensifies, the Government is set to allocate Sh1 billion funds to Health Ministry that will be used to hire workers and boost manpower.
Kenya has confirmed seven cases of coronavirus.
Globally, the pandemic has killed 10,495 people and infected 255,729.
