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President Kenyatta extends curfew with new timelines

Saturday, June 6th, 2020 15:32 | By
President Uhuru Kenyatta has hinted at a possibility of relaxing current Covid-19 containment measures which include a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew. Photo/PD/File

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday extended the night curfew for 30 more days, but with new timelines.

"Nationwide dusk to dawn curfew extended by 30 days from 9 pm to 4 am as a precautionary measure to control further spread of COVID-19," said President Kenyatta.

On movement cessation, Nairobi, Mandera and Mombasa counties remain closed for 30 more days. Kilifi and Kwale counties were opened effective Monday 4am.

Movement in and out of Eastleigh Area and Mombasa Old Town shall resume June 7, at 4 am.

On resumption of learning activities, the Head of state said the Ministries of Health and Education shall issue guidelines on gradual resumption of normalcy from September 1. The Education Ministry shall announce a new school calendar by mid August.

The Head of State said early mitigation helped to control coronavirus infections and bring down the speculated numbers.

"Relaxing measures by 20 percent would lead to 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths by December. Relaxing measures by 40 percent, infections would peak in November with 300,000 infections and 40,000 deaths. Relaxing by 60 percent would peak infections in October to 450,000 and 45,000 deaths," he said

On social gatherings, the President said they remain banned for further 30 days. For religious gatherings, he said an inter-religious committee shall advise.

Bars will remain closed for further 30 days.

On opening up the economy, President Kenyatta said after consulting widely, the nation was found not to have met the threshold(irreducible minimums)

The irreducible minimums

To open up fully the sectors the have been affected, President Kenyatta said;

  • The healthcare system must be prepared adequately which is not the case.
  • Infections must be contained and headed downwards, as well as deaths.
  • The capacity for contact tracing need to be fully effective which was found not to be the case.

Uhuru said Kenya has not met the three irreducible minimums mandatory for reopening the economy.

About counties not having well equipped medical systems, the president said he shall convene a meeting with the 47 governors to follow up on county preparations for Covid-19.

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