Review of COVID-19 Containment Measures

Press Release

WHEREAS, fifteen months after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Kenya, the disease continues to manifest across our country;

WHEREAS, over the last fourteen days’ infections in the Counties of Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kericho, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa-Bay and Migori constituted 60% of the national caseload;

WHEREAS, the positivity rate in the aforementioned counties averages 21% against a national average of 9%;

WHEREAS, the surge of infections in the aforementioned counties is further compounded by their proximity to the Republic of Uganda, which has similarly reported a surge of COVID-19 infections; and

WHEREAS, there is a heightened risk of cross-border infections from the neighbouring countries adding to our national caseload.

NOW THEREFORE, in order to break the cycle of infections in the affected areas, and following consultations with the Council of Governors, and with the concurrence of the National Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19; in exercise of the authority vested on the Cabinet Secretary for Health by the Public Health Act, the continuing containment measures are hereby reviewed as follows:

That the Counties of Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Kericho, Bomet, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa-Bay and Migori are individually and collectively declared as a COVID-19 hotspot zone;

That effective 18th June 2021 the following containment measures shall apply within the COVID-19 hotspot zone:

1. That the curfew within the hotspot zone shall be observed between 07:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. daily;
2. Except for essential and emergency services, movement between the hotspot Zone and the rest of the country is strongly discouraged;
3. All cross-border cargo drivers shall be required to possess a valid certificate indicating a negative COVID-19 test that was conducted no more than 48 hours before commencing their journey, and each cargo truck shall be limited to only 2 persons per vehicle;
4. That, weekly non-food and livestock markets are hereby suspended in the Hotspot Zone for a period of 30 days;
5. All public gatherings and in-person meetings of whatever nature are prohibited within the Hotspot Zone, including house parties and sporting activities;
6. All funerals and interment ceremonies within the Hotspot Zone shall be conducted within 72 hours of confirmation of death;
7. Night Vigils and overnight processions prior to funerals are prohibited within the Hotspot Zone until further notice;
8. That the attendees for funerals within the Hotspot Zone are capped to a maximum of 50 persons until further notice;
9. That the attendees, officiators, and facilitators of weddings, celebrations of marriage or traditional unions, ceremonies of rites of passage, and all other similar events or ceremonies is maintained at 30 persons in total until further notice;
10. All forms of physical/congressional worship (churches, mosques, temples and shrines) in the hotspot counties are suspended for a period of 30 days;
11. All employers including the public and private sector, government offices, businesses and companies in the Hotspot Zone are advised to allow employees to work from home, with the exception of employees working in critical or essential services.
12. In accordance with the Public Order No.3 of 2021, all hospitals within the Hotspot Zone are directed to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to one (1) visitor per patient per time until further notice; and
13. For the avoidance of doubt, the hours of the ongoing nationwide curfew shall continue to be observed in the rest of the country, from 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. daily.

All Kenyans, are reminded not to let their guard down, and they should avoid unnecessary movements and gatherings, employ physical distancing, observe proper hand hygiene, and observe the proper and consistent use of face masks.

All prevailing mitigation measures to guard against further spread of the COVID-19 disease in the rest of the country remain in place and unchanged.

IN WITNESS whereof I have set my hand to this Revised Containment Measures, on this SEVENTEENTH Day of JUNE in the year TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-ONE.

SEN. MUTAHI KAGWE, EGH
CABINET SECRTARY MINISTRY OF HEALTH