Regulations for the new Covid-19 hotspot zone

Fifteen months after the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in Kenya, the disease continues to manifest across the coutry.

Over the last 14 days, infections in Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kericho, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori have constituted 60 per cent of the national caseload. These counties have now collectively been declared a Covid-19 hotspot zone.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said the positivity rate in these counties averages 21 per cent, against a national average of nine per cent.

In order to break the cycle of infections in the affected areas, the Health ministry as well as other authorities have set up the following measures:

> That the curfew within the hotspot zone shall be observed between 7pm-4am daily.

> Except for essential and emergency services, movement between the hotspot zone and the rest of the country is strongly discouraged.

> All cross-border cargo drivers shall be required to possess a valid certificate indicating a negative Covid-19 test that was conducted no more than 48 hours before commencing their journey.

> Each cargo truck shall be limited to only two persons per vehicle.

> Weekly non-food and livestock markets are hereby suspended in the hotspot zone for a period of 30 days.

> All public gatherings and in-person meetings of whatever nature are prohibited within the hotspot zone, including house parties and sporting activities.

> All funerals and interment ceremonies within the hotspot zone shall be conducted within 72 hours of confirmation of death.

> Night vigils and overnight processions prior to funerals are prohibited within the hotspot zone until further notice.

> That the attendees for funerals within the hotspot zone are capped to a maximum of 50 persons until further notice.

> That the attendees, officiators, and facilitators of weddings, celebrations of marriage or traditional unions, ceremonies of rites of passage, and all other similar events or ceremonies are maintained at 30 persons in total until further notice.

> All forms of physical/congressional worship (churches, mosques, temples and shrines) in the hotspot counties are suspended for a period of 30 days.

> All employers including the public and private sector, government offices, businesses and companies in the hotspot zone are advised to allow employees to work from home, with

the exception of employees working in critical or essential services.

> All hospitals within the hotspot zone are directed to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to one visitor per patient per time until further notice.

> The hours of the ongoing nationwide curfew shall continue to be observed in the rest of the country, from 10pm to 4am daily.