President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued new Covid-19 measures today.
Speaking from State House Nairobi, he said the new measures have been reviewed so as to contain the spread of the virus.
The measures include; The extension of the nationwide 10PM to 4AM curfew for 60 days, the ban of all political and social gatherings for 30 days, bars and restaurants to close by 9PM, and funerals to be held within 72 hours of the confirmation of death.
He said, “Today I direct that all forms of political gatherings be and are hereby prohibited for a period of 30 days effective midnight on this March 12, 2021.”
He added, “Because in the past our policy decisions have been guided by science, data and evidence, we will continue to be guided by the scientific evidence.”
In regards to the Oxford-Astrazeneca Vaccine, the President urged Kenyans to get vaccinated, however noting that it was voluntary.
He said the vaccination exercise will be carried in three phases, with the frontline workers, including health personnel, teachers and uniformed personnel to be the first in line
He said, “The second phase, which will start immediately we receive our second containment which will target the elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions, but I must also make it clear that as much as we recommend the vaccine to be taken, vaccination shall be voluntary and this culture of civic responsibility may explain in power the drop of COVID positivity rate from 19 percent in November 2020 to 2 percent in January of this year.”
Meanwhile, the country has today recorded 215 Covid-19 recoveries, 122 from the Home-Care program and 93 from different hospitals. The total number of recoveries now stands at 88,209.
However, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe says, 750 new cases were recorded out of a sample size of 6,264. The total number now stands at 111,935. 2 patients have succumbed, pushing the country’s cumulative fatalities to 1,901.