President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in Kenya making the total confirmed COVID-19 cases to three.
The additional two cases have been isolated, quarantined for medical treatment.
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Speaking at Harambee House at 4 pm earlier today accompanied by National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus Chaired by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, the President has also suspended with immediate effect Primary and Secondary schools effective tomorrow with boarding schools to go home on Wednesday.
Businesses and companies are encouraged to allow people to work from home other than those in essential services.
President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the following additional protocols;
1. The Government is suspending travel for all persons coming into Kenya from any country with reported Coronavirus cases.
2. Only Kenyan Citizens and any foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to come in provided they proceed on self-quarantine or to a government-designated quarantine facility. This will take effect within the next 48 hours to cater for any passengers who may be en route. This directive will remain in effect for the next 30 days or as varied by the National Emergency Response Committee.
3. All persons who have come into Kenya in the last 14 days must self-quarantine. If any person exhibits symptoms such as cough, or fever, they should present themselves to the nearest health facility for testing;
4. We have suspended learning in all our educational institutions with immediate effect. Consequently, and to facilitate a phased approach, primary and secondary day schools are to suspend operations from tomorrow.
5. For those in boarding schools, the school administration is to ensure that students are home by Wednesday, 18th March 2020 while Universities and Tertiary Institutions are to close by Friday, 20th March 2020;
6. Where possible, government offices, businesses, and companies are encouraged to allow employees to work from home, with the exception of employees working in critical or essential services.
7. In order to avoid the risk of transmission through physical handling of money, we encourage the use of cashless transactions such as mobile money and credit cards. We appeal to mobile operators and banks to take into consideration the situation and reduce the cost of transactions during this period.
8. In line with the directive to avoid crowded places, citizens are encouraged to:
a) Avoid congregating including in places of worship;
b) Minimize attendance to social gatherings including weddings and funerals, and restrict the same to immediate family members;
c) Avoid crowded places including shopping malls and entertainment premises;
d) Minimize congestion in public transport wherever possible;
e) Limitation of visitors to hospitalized patients in both public and private hospitals.
9. Hospitals and shopping malls are encouraged to provide soap, water, and hand sanitizers and ensure that all their premises are regularly cleaned and disinfected.
“I appeal to all of us to strictly observe these measures. I would also like to appeal for calm. Kenyans must avoid misinformation that causes panic and anxiety,” the President said.
Expressing optimism that the country will overcome the virus, President Uhuru Kenyatta said every single Kenyan has a responsibility in containing the outbreak.
“Let us remember that as Kenyans, we have been faced with other crises in the past, and we have always triumphed by coming together in the spirit of national unity and cooperation.
“This pandemic will test us, as it is testing all countries in every corner of the world, but I do not believe it will defeat us. If we pull together, and everybody does their part, we shall overcome its worst impacts,” he said.
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The President who announced two more cases of confirmed infections assured the country that the Government is proactively assessing, containing and managing the virus.
To safeguard the public from exploitative traders, the President said severe action will be taken against people found to be taking advantage of the situation to hoard or increase prices of commodities.
“I would like to really emphasize on one point, that we will also equally not entertain hoarding or raising prices to mwananchi taking advantage of this situation to create artificial shortages so that mwananchi is made to pay more.
“The Competition Authority has already been given clear instructions and they will be moving around and anybody who is seen to have taken unnecessary and undue advantage of this particular crisis to make our citizens pay more than they should, serious and severe action will be taken against perpetuating that vice,” the President said.
