NAIROBI — Kenya’s Ministry of Health has on Sunday, April 5, confirmed 16 new Coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 142.
15 of the new cases are are Kenyan citizens while one is a Nigerian national, the ministry said.
The ministry added that eleven of the 16 new cases had a history of recent travel while five had the virus locally transmitted.
Of the new cases, 9 were identified in quarantine areas where authorities had compelled Kenyans and foreigners who arrived in the country to stay for 14 days.
At a press conference, the Ministry of Transport also announced that a ban on international flights coming into the country would be extended by 30 days, with the directive to take effect on Monday, April 6.
Cargo flights will, however, remain exempt from the directive as will evacuation flights for foreign nations planning to evacuate their citizens.
The evacuation flights will also have to provide 72-hour notice before being granted approval to land.
Boda boda riders were warned that they would be locked up and their motorbikes impounded if they failed to adhere to the directives.
Macharia also announced the suspension of prison visits for 30 more days as part of measures to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.
Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi also reiterated an appeal made by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday, April 4 to Kenya’s youth to play a key role in curbing the spread of the virus.
“What the CS was talking about is taking personal responsibility. I think we are duty bound to protect our families, our parents and grandparents,” she stated.
Mwangangi further stated that those who died from Covid-19 would have to be buried within 24 hours.
“Persons who pass away from coronavirus disease will have to be buried within 24 hours from the time of death. Burials will be restricted to less than 15 close family members,” she asserted.
Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth also confirmed the extension of the stay of individuals in mandatory quarantine for 14 days, claiming that many had failed to comply with their directives.
