Ministry of Health, Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi, in a press briefing on Sunday, April 5, announced that all victims of the Coronavirus pandemic had to be buried within 24 hours.
“We want to reiterate that persons who pass away due to Coronavirus will have to be buried within 24 hours from the time of death. And the burials are restricted to less than 15 close family members,” said Dr Mwangangi.
The directive is aimed at containing the spread of the virus to people especially relatives and morgue attendants who come into contact with infected bodies.
As of Sunday, Kenya had recorded 4 Covid-19-related deaths, with the latest victim being a six-year-old boy, who is feared to have infected several medics at the Kenyatta National Hospital after they came into contact with him without protective equipment.
The global death toll as of Sunday, April 5, stood at 67,260 with sharp spikes in new cases in some countries as testing capacities increase.
Kenyans have been warned of stiffer measures if the directives given by the government continue to be ignored, even as some communities lament of the disruption the burial directive will have on traditional rites.
Kenya confirmed 16 more Covid-19 cases bringing the totl of cases reported in Kenya to 142.
The government has also tighened regulations guiding the operations of public transport vehicles warning of dire consequences if operators are caught flouting directives.
''The police shall impound public service vehicles and cancel Sacco licences of public transport operators who shall be found carrying passengers who are not having protective masks,'' stated the Health CAS.
Kenyans have also been advised to acquire recommended masks that offer protection against Covid-19 even as local production begins.
Counties have been improving their capacity of handling the disease with Mombasa County procuring over 30 ICU beds and ventilators in readiness for any eventuality.
