Kenya has been forced back into stringent COVID-19 measures following the recent increase in cases when the East African country entered the third wave.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) on Friday announced cessation of movement in five counties identified as the hotspots that have recorded alarming cases since the year began.
“All gatherings and in-person meetings of whatever nature are suspended within Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru counties until further notice. All in-person meetings of Cabinet and its committees also suspended”, he stated while addressing the press from State House in Nairobi.
This implies that Kenyans residing in counties such as Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru will be locked effective midnight, Friday, March 26, 2021. Nonetheless, they will be able to move across counties given that they have been listed as zoned areas.
These counties are expected to be under a curfew from 8pm to 4am in the morning while other regions will be under curfew from 10pm to 4am.
Apart from this, international travellers are required to have a COVID-19 free certification indicating they tested negative in not more 96 hours ago.
Kenya has lately reported high COVID-19 numbers making the health facilities to be outstretched. Hospitals are running out of beds and country’s positivity rate has risen four-fold above the mark recommended by World Health-Organization (WHO).
“In less than 12 days, our admission in hospitals has increased by 52 per cent. The positivity rate is the highest since the pandemic began and the stress on our health care is unparalleled,” Uhuru said.
“Nairobi County alone accounts for nearly 60 per cent of all recorded Covid-19 cases. This means that out of 5 people, 3 are more likely to test positive for Covid-19 disease,” he further added.
Kenya currently has 126, 170 cases, 2,092 deaths and 91, 268 cases. The country has rolled out vaccination targeting the vulnerable population, frontline health workers and teachers.