The government of Kenya has extended closing hours of restaurants and hotels from 5.00 p.m to 7.30 p.m daily with a stern warning that those who break the law will have their operating licences revoked. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the adjustment was made following intense consultations between restaurant owners and the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) on COVID-19.
The Cabinet Secretary said that this will allow hotel workers to beat the curfew hours and advised the operators to strictly adhere to protocols “The operators of these restaurants must, however, ensure they have thermo-guns at the entrance of the premises to screen clients for temperature, provide handwashing stations and soap at the entrance for clients and also provide sanitizers in strategic places at the facilities,” he said.
The owners must also ensure that every client entering the establishment wears a face mask, including food handlers and must give provision for social and physical distancing.
He noted that even though all restaurant workers must be tested before the opening of the restaurant, they will not need another test after 14 days unless the restaurant does not follow the protocols or a person shows symptoms of the disease.’
He instructed Public Health officials in their respective areas, to ensure that the guidelines are complied with.
The CS also announced that out of 3255 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 133 people have tested positive bringing the total number of positives to 3860.
Cumulatively so far 121,956 samples have been tested. All the positive cases are Kenyans, with 88 being males and 45 females. The youngest is 13 years old and the oldest is 90 years.
The 133 positive cases are distributed in Nairobi, 86 cases, Mombasa, 27, Kiambu, seven, Busia five, Kilifi, Kajiado, and Migori two cases each while Machakos and Muranga, have one case each.
Nairobi cases are from Westlands, 13, Embakasi South, 10, Makadara, nine, Langata, eight, Embakasi East, and Roysambu, five cases each, Starehe, four, Ruaraka, Embakasi Central, Dagoretti North, three cases each, Embakasi North, Embakasi West, Kasarani, Dagoretti South, and Kibra one case each.
In Mombasa, the 27 cases are from Mvita, 16, Kisauni, six, Nyali, three, Changamwe and Jomvu one case each. The cases in Kiambu are from Kiambaa, three cases, Kabete, Juja, Kikuyu and Kiambu Town, one case each. Kilifi has two cases, one each one from Kaloleni and Kilifi North.
Kajiado has two cases, one case each from Kajiado East and Kajiado west, while Migori has two cases, one each from Kuria West and Kuria East. Machakos has one case from Athi River and Muranga has one case from Kigumo.
The CS also announced that 40 patients were today discharged from various hospitals, bringing the tally of recoveries to 1,326. However, he announced that one more patient succumbed to the disease, bringing the total number of those who have died to 105.
During the event, Dr Pacifica Onyancha, Head of the Preventive and Promotive Services said children’s diet and nutrition is necessary especially at this time of COVID 19 to build their immunity.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Health has implemented high impact interventions on policies and guidelines for child survival through promotion of immunization coverage at health centres.
“We are making sure there are scheduled appointments to avoid crowding and that the staff attending the clinic have their temperatures taken every morning,” she said.
The Government she added is promoting exclusive breastfeeding of up to 6 months and in the face of COVID,-19, mothers are advised to continue breastfeeding their children and if positive to use a mask even as they are breastfeeding.
Mothers and children, she explained, are fragile during this time of Covid-19 and urged parents not to allow children under two years to wear masks. Those who are under 5 should also not wear when at home or in a car because they can easily suffocate.
“Mental status of those taking care of the children as well as the mothers is detrimental and we are requesting those of you who need psychosocial support to seek help so that you don’t injure or affect the child,” Dr Onyancha said.
Today, the country is commemorating the Day of the Africa Child marked every 16th of June.
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