The Government of Kenya on Sunday, March 22, confirmed 8 more cases of Coronavirus in Kenya, bringing the total number of those who have tested positive to 15.
Addressing members of the press outside President Uhuru Kenyatta's Harambee House office, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that out of the 8 new patients, 5 were Kenyans, 2 were French citizens and 1 was Mexican.
He further revealed that 363 persons who had come into contact with the 8 were actively being traced by the government.
The national briefing had been slated to start at 4:00 p.m following the notice issued by the Health CS, however, it was delayed by over an hour and a half, causing anxiety among Kenyans.
He apologised for the delay when he finally started his address at around 5:42 p.m, citing heated discussions regarding the next course of action as the reason.
"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," he disclosed.
In a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus, CS Kagwe announced that several measures would be forcefully effected including the suspension of all international flights with the exception of cargo flights.
"All international flights suspended effective Wed 25, at midnight," he announced urging Kenyans to stay at home.
He also decreed that all churches, shrines, and mosques to suspended their programs immediately, to ensure social distancing was adhered to.
Below is Mutahi Kagwe's press briefing:
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/LLqYq8_fqE0.jpg?itok=e6SQPT7b","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
In line with the above, CS Kagwe urged the younger generation to steer clear of the elderly to avoid the risk of infecting them.
"In the coming week, you will observe enforcement measures that the government will be taking. Kenyans, Corona is not a joke! Stay at home!" Kagwe stated.
In regards to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operations, they were all instructed to adhere to the directives given or risk their Sacco licenses being revoked.
All bars were ordered to be shut indefinitely starting midnight March 22, with the health CS emphasising that his ministry would work closely with the National Police Service to ensure that all the directives were followed to the letter.
However, he made it clear that restaurants were allowed to remain operational, but that they would only be allowed to offer takeaway services.
CS Kagwe was accompanied by Principal Secretary, State Department Of Interior, Karanja Kibicho and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, who both took to the podium to reiterate the need to follow the directives issued by the Health CS.
Kibicho reitereated that weddings and merrry-go-rounds were suspended while burials were resticted to only close family members not exceeding 15.
"We will enforce this without mercy," the interior CS warned.
