Health ministry unveils sanctions to check Omicron spread
The government yesterday moved to impose tough sanctions to check the fast-spreading Omicron Covid variant during the festive season.
At a press conference, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned that Kenyans will be required to provide proof of vaccination to be allowed to access various services or attend events during the festive season.
“Proof of vaccination will be required in the following settings: All organised events, including weddings, funerals, receptions, organised parties, conferences, sports, trade fairs and workshops,” the CS said in a message calculated to check spread of the virus during the holiday season.
The warning came as scores of MPs and parliamentary staff were taken into isolation after testing positive for the Omicron variant after returning from a sports event in neighbouring Tanzania.
Fast spreading variant
Sources within Parliamentary Service Commission put the number of MPs who have tested positive for the fast spreading variant at 18.
Separately, the World Health Organisation issued a global warning over the new variant, asking people to call off Christmas and New Year celebrations in order to contain the marauding variant.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus was quoted; “All of us are sick of this pandemic, all of us want to spend time with friends and family, all of us want to get back to normal.
Kenya’s neighbours, notably Rwanda and South Sudan, also moved to impose partial lockdowns to check spread of the virus.
In a statement, South Sudan Vice-President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol announced that the government had imposed a partial lockdown with effect from December 21 to January 10, 2022, to prevent spread of the two active variants, Delta and Omicron in the country.
Yesterday, Kagwe announced that nobody would be allowed to attend indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events if they are not fully vaccinated, or are not able to show proof of vaccination.
Kagwe also said licensed hotels, restaurants and cafes that offer table service - indoor and patio dining, including liquor tasting rooms in wineries, breweries or distilleries must adhere to these measures.
“Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining); nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres, game parks and game reserves, museums, supermarkets, shopping malls and indoor markets and banking halls will also be affected,” he added.
Kagwe called on Kenyans to get the Covid-19 jab, saying it offered the best protection against the virus.
“This means we need all adults in the country vaccinated in the shortest time possible to ensure we have many people protected against severe disease,” he added.
Proof of vaccination, Kagwe said, will also be required for those using transport services such as international and domestic flights, train services, PSVs, boda boda and taxi.
He said all government and parastatal offices are also expected to implement the directive.
“As part of the heightened Covid-19 containment measures, the National Emergency Response Committee on coronavirus on November 21, directed that everybody seeking in-person Government services should be fully vaccinated and proof of vaccination availed by December 21,” he pointed out.
In public places, the CS maintained that all persons must show proof of vaccination for admission into national parks and game reserves, hotels, bars and restaurants as well as use of public transport means including domestic flights, train and passenger services vehicles.
“All visitors, tourists, travellers from Europe, must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before entry into the country,” Kagwe restated.
These guidelines, he noted, have been developed to guide public interaction and operation at public facilities in line with NERCC recommendations.
“It is important to note that these guidelines may be reviewed depending on Covid disease trends globally and within the country.”
Event organiser
He outlined that the government will require that an event organiser, or facility manager ensures that all protocols issued by the ministry for the prevention and control of Covid are observed.
“These include hand-washing, sanitising, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, temperature checking and observance for signs and symptoms of Covid-19,” he said.
In the escalated measures, the government expects that all workers or service providers must have undergone Covid vaccination and possess vaccination certificates.
Also, all participants must provide a vaccination certificate as proof of being fully vaccinated against the virus.
Exemptions from vaccination against Covid on medical grounds may be issued by a licensed medical practitioner.
“Children and adolescents below the age of 15 years are exempted from this requirement,” he said.
The government yesterday moved to impose tough sanctions to check the fast-spreading Omicron Covid variant during the festive season.
At a press conference, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned that Kenyans will be required to provide proof of vaccination to be allowed to access various services or attend events during the festive season.
“Proof of vaccination will be required in the following settings: All organised events, including weddings, funerals, receptions, organised parties, conferences, sports, trade fairs and workshops,” the CS said in a message calculated to check spread of the virus during the holiday season.
The warning came as scores of MPs and parliamentary staff were taken into isolation after testing positive for the Omicron variant after returning from a sports event in neighbouring Tanzania.
Fast spreading variant
Sources within Parliamentary Service Commission put the number of MPs who have tested positive for the fast spreading variant at 18.
Separately, the World Health Organisation issued a global warning over the new variant, asking people to call off Christmas and New Year celebrations in order to contain the marauding variant.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus was quoted; “All of us are sick of this pandemic, all of us want to spend time with friends and family, all of us want to get back to normal.
Kenya’s neighbours, notably Rwanda and South Sudan, also moved to impose partial lockdowns to check spread of the virus.
In a statement, South Sudan Vice-President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol announced that the government had imposed a partial lockdown with effect from December 21 to January 10, 2022, to prevent spread of the two active variants, Delta and Omicron in the country.
Yesterday, Kagwe announced that nobody would be allowed to attend indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events if they are not fully vaccinated, or are not able to show proof of vaccination.
Kagwe also said licensed hotels, restaurants and cafes that offer table service - indoor and patio dining, including liquor tasting rooms in wineries, breweries or distilleries must adhere to these measures.
“Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining); nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres, game parks and game reserves, museums, supermarkets, shopping malls and indoor markets and banking halls will also be affected,” he added.
Kagwe called on Kenyans to get the Covid-19 jab, saying it offered the best protection against the virus.
“This means we need all adults in the country vaccinated in the shortest time possible to ensure we have many people protected against severe disease,” he added.
Proof of vaccination, Kagwe said, will also be required for those using transport services such as international and domestic flights, train services, PSVs, boda boda and taxi.
He said all government and parastatal offices are also expected to implement the directive.
“As part of the heightened Covid-19 containment measures, the National Emergency Response Committee on coronavirus on November 21, directed that everybody seeking in-person Government services should be fully vaccinated and proof of vaccination availed by December 21,” he pointed out.
In public places, the CS maintained that all persons must show proof of vaccination for admission into national parks and game reserves, hotels, bars and restaurants as well as use of public transport means including domestic flights, train and passenger services vehicles.
“All visitors, tourists, travellers from Europe, must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before entry into the country,” Kagwe restated.
These guidelines, he noted, have been developed to guide public interaction and operation at public facilities in line with NERCC recommendations.
“It is important to note that these guidelines may be reviewed depending on Covid disease trends globally and within the country.”
Event organiser
He outlined that the government will require that an event organiser, or facility manager ensures that all protocols issued by the ministry for the prevention and control of Covid are observed.
“These include hand-washing, sanitising, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, temperature checking and observance for signs and symptoms of Covid-19,” he said.
In the escalated measures, the government expects that all workers or service providers must have undergone Covid vaccination and possess vaccination certificates.
Also, all participants must provide a vaccination certificate as proof of being fully vaccinated against the virus.
Exemptions from vaccination against Covid on medical grounds may be issued by a licensed medical practitioner.
“Children and adolescents below the age of 15 years are exempted from this requirement,” he said.
