Bars and Restaurants Comply With Government Directive

A photo of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe addressing the media outside Afya House on March 18, 2020.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe addressing the media outside Afya House on March 18, 2020.
Twitter

Bars and restaurants in Nairobi seem to be taking the government's directive on social distancing seriously. In a spot check by Kenyans.co.ke we can confirm that indeed bars remained unopened on the night of March 23 and restaurants were only serving clients take away orders as they had no customers sitting in and enjoying their orders.

This measures came into effect after the CS for Health, Mutahi Kagwe on March 22 ordered by midnight the clubs be shut down and also stressed that the National Police service would follow up on the ground to ensure full compliance.

A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at the Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke



"We have noticed that the majority of our people have continued to ignore our measures, continuing as if it is business as usual. We must treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.

"In the coming week, you will observe enforcement measures that the government will be taking. Kenyans, Corona is not a joke! Stay at home!" the cabinet secretary warned.

Kenya has so far confirmed 16 positive cases on the covid-19 virus and the government is keen on containing the spread of this deadly pathogen.

While an outbreak of the virus cannot be stopped, its spread can be slowed down drastically through social distancing. Social distancing refers to intentionally increasing the physical space between you and another individual to avoid spreading the Covid-19 virus from one human host to another.

Social distancing is one of the most effective ways of reducing transmission rates as by staying 6 feet away from each other, you lessen the chances of one contracting the disease from someone sneezing or coughing.

The virus can be also transmitted by one touching an already contaminated surface,  a surface such as a table. Eventually, it dies out of the surface. By staying at home, you limit possible interactions with it and you avoid carrying it and spreading it to your loved one since it takes approximately two weeks for an infected individual to start showing symptoms.

Medics conducting random screening at National Archives, Nairobi on Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Medics conducting random screening at National Archives, Nairobi on Saturday, March 21, 2020.
File



Reducing human contact to a minimum will have an effect on the entertainment and hospitality industry. However, in countries which have managed to slow down new infection rates such as Taiwan or Singapore, it has proved a most effective as it allows the healthcare system to then care for the already infected patients and test suspected cases, averting an overwhelming outbreak of cases which might be hard to manage as has been the case in Italy.



Aside from bars being shut down and restaurants operating on a strictly take away basis, gatherings in religious places have also been banned. Public service vehicles have been directed to carry fewer passengers in a bid to keep the physical distance between passengers at 6 feet.

 

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