Covid-19: Kenya’s Uhuru extends curfew by 21 days as cases rise to 343

Kenya now has 343 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Saturday, saying a total of 98 people had recovered and that the death toll remained 14.

Kenya, which reported its first case of Covid-19 on March 13, had 336 confirmed cases and 94 recoveries as of Friday.

President Kenyatta made these announcements in an address to the nation amid the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and Kenya’s efforts to reduce local transmission.

He made announcements including the following:

1. An extension of the nationwide 7pm to 5am curfew by 21 days. Mr Kenyatta said the decision to escalate and de-escalate the restrictions will be made based on scientific and medical advice and how vulnerable the country is to large-scale infection.

2. An extension of the cessation of movement order affecting Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties by 21 days.

   These counties were among 14 earlier identified as most at risk for the virus.

   Nairobi and Mombasa account for the highest number of cases and tested samples in the country. President Kenyatta said Kenya had tested more than 17,492 samples by Saturday.

3. That minimal operations will be allowed at hotels and other eateries in select counties should they adhere strictly to the government’s measures against the spread of the deadly virus.

4. The rollout of the National Hygiene Programme on April 29, an initiative that will help create a healthier environment and jobs, with the first phase employing 26,148 workers over 30 days and more than 100,000 youths progressively.

5. That the government is unaware of reports that Kenya will take part in a vaccine trial.

   Giving the Health ministry’s daily briefing on Friday, Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman said authorities were not aware of plans by Oxford University to carry out human vaccine trials in the country.

   President Kenyatta said the nation would be notified of developments in trials as local organisations such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) were taking part in global efforts for the vaccine.

6. That more stringent measures against the virus will be taken in consultation with the county governments of Mandera, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa as they have registered an increase in cases of infection.

   The government has also restricted movement into and out of Mandera.

7. That the country’s security agencies will upgrade their alert and response measures in every border area to keep the government’s response to the coronavirus from being compromised.

President Kenyatta said measures the government has put in place so far have greatly helped Kenya to contain the spread.