President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday announced a raft of new measures aimed at combating the impending second wave of COVID-19 after chairing the sixth extraordinary session at State House, Nairobi.
Among the new changes include the adjustment of the nationwide curfew from 11pm down one hour to 10pm through to 4am, which remains as it was.
The Head of State, in doing so, also extended the curfew to be in effect from November 4, 2020 until January 3, 2020.
“The nationwide curfew is extended upto January 3, 2021, and beginning tonight (Wednesday), the curfew will now be enforced between 10pm and 4am,” President Kenyatta said in his address.
President Kenyatta further urged county governments to maintain isolation facilities in a state of preparedness through continuous capacity building for healthcare workers, provision of adequate PPEs and continuous implementation of infection prevention control measures.
He also warned that the national government may be forced to institute localized lockdowns on specific counties where coronavirus infections are seen to be rising rapidly.
“Where there is an upsurge of COVID-cases in a specific county, the national government will consult the affected county to issue localized lockdowns and movement restrictions as may be necessary to stem the spread of the disease.”
“And to enhance civic responsibility, national and county governments have resolved that going forward services will not be rendered to anyone who does not abide by Ministry of Health protocols. I call on the private sector to join government in the public campaign dubbed ‘No Mask, No Service’/ ‘Bila Barakoa, Hakuna Huduma.’”
Bars, restaurants be closed by 9pm
President Uhuru Kenyatta also revised the closing time for bars and restaurants from 10pm down to 9pm in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
This was among new protocols announced by the Head of State who chaired the sixth extraordinary summit on the pandemic at State House, Nairobi, earlier in the morning.
The new closing time for bars, restaurants and eateries was adjusted in line with the changing of the curfew time from 11pm to now start at 10 pm through to 4am.
“The nationwide curfew is extended upto January 3, 2021, and beginning tonight, the curfew will now be enforced between 10pm and 4am. In consequence of variation of the 10pm curfew, all bars, restaurants and other establishments open to the public must now close by 9pm,” he said.
The Head of State however continued to urge bar and restaurant owners to ensure compliance with government measures aimed to thwarting the virus, warning that those that fail to do so will be closed.
“In view of restrictions within the hospitality sector, I urge all operators of hotels, restaurants, eateries and other establishments that sell alcohol on wholesale or retail to do all that is necessary to ensure enhanced compliance with Ministry of Health guidelines and protocols, and those who fail will have their establishments immediately shut down,” he stated.
President Kenyatta, in his earlier opening address to county governors during the extraordinary summit, had fired a warning shot to bars that have been seen as operating beyond curfew hours.
Bar and hotel owners on Tuesday expressed confidence of remaining in operation saying the wider hospitality sector has worked hard to abide by re-opening protocols issued by the Ministry of Health.
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