Kenya has announced tougher measures in an effort to combat COVID-19 pandemic. The country on Sunday April 19, 2020, confirmed 8 new cases bringing the total to 270.
Out of the new cases, Seven are Kenyans and one is a foreign national, all with no history of travel. Three more have also recovered bringing the total to 67.
However, two other persons have died bringing the total fatalities to 14.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi has announced tougher measures that should be followed by Kenyans.
Dr Mwangangi on Sunday evening while addressing the nation announced that anyone caught violating the curfew order would be arrested and treated as a contact person and therefore tested for the COVID-19.
She further urged Kenyans to be careful not to buy masks that wouldn’t help them after reports emerged that some unscrupulous traders were recycling the masks and selling them to unsuspecting Kenyans.
She also warned Kenyans ignoring social distancing measures that they would face the full force of the law. In particular she said that Kenyans using wines&spirits joints to drink would be arrested.
She revealed that the government will deploy technological surveillance to arrest those congregating after curfew.
“We have noticed that wines and spirits have been converted to drinking joints. Anyone found drinking at the wines and spirits shop will be arrested and the place closed down,” Mwangangi said.
CAS Mwangangi revealed that 56% of the cases were imported and only 44% have come from within the country.
She however stated that the country was concerned with increased infections from contact-to-contact transmission.
The CAS stated that Moi Referral Hospital and Kenyatta University Hospital had joined other facilities in the country allowed to test the virus
