Kenya Imposes New Covid-19 Lockdown Restrictions

Following a hike in infection rates, Kenya has imposed an indefinite lockdown as announced by the President on Friday, April 3, 2021.

President Uhuru Kenyatta also announced a ban on all inland travel in the capital Nairobi and international travels to and from the UK and some other countries.

Kenya’s Covid-19 positivity rate has jumped from 2% to 22% between January and March and Nairobi accounts for nearly 60% of the cases.

This week alone, Kenya recorded between 1,000 and 1,500 cases per day while hospital admissions increased by 52% in the past two weeks.

President Kenyatta revealed that at least seven people die every day from coronavirus according to new statistics.

“According to our health experts, our third wave started to gain strength in early March,” said Kenyatta.

The peak of this wave is expected in the next 30 days, with more than 2,500 to 3,000 cases per day,” he added.

Recognising the impact these decisions will have on the economy, Kenyatta added that these “measures are temporary and necessary to contain the spread of the disease and therefore to stop further loss of life.”

“I am convinced that the cost of inaction would be much worse,” he said.

What Are The New Restrictions?

The lockdown which began at midnight on Friday, April 3, 2021, has curfew hours adjusted to 8 pm to 4 am (20:00 – 04:00 am) instead of 10 pm – 4 am (22:00 – 04:00 am`).

Special passes that allowed people to travel during curfew hours have been revoked.

Alcohol sales in the areas have also been banned and restaurants can only provide takeaway services.

 Road, rail or air transport will be banned in Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos and Nakuru.

In person, meetings will also be banned.

All face-to-face teaching, which includes universities”, with the exception of students currently taking exams has been suspended for the duration of the lockdown.

All sporting events are also suspended.

International travel is permitted but subject to a negative coronavirus test.

Patsy Nwogu

Reporting on data-driven featured stories and investigations.

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