The Government of Kenya through Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has extended the ongoing Dusk to dawn curfew for another 30 days.
Nationwide curfew extended for another 30 days
CS Kagwe extends dusk-to-dawn curfew for another 30 days
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The Health CS said that the extension of the 10:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew is aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.
CS Kagwe made the announcement on Monday, during the launch of the Covid-19 information Portal in conjunction with the Media Council of Kenya.
The CS also said that the ban on public gatherings and political rallies has also been extended. Adding that the extension period will be used to Vaccinate more people.
However, the announcement comes at a time Health experts were urging the government to lift the 10:pm to 4:00am curfew.
Amref Health Africa Global CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi, said that the governments needs to ensure there is adequate oxygen, health workers, and funding, large-scale timely vaccination, and rigorous epidemiological data to determine whether short-term curfews are required as circuit breakers.
Dr. Githinji, a member of the Taskforce on Africa’s Covid-19 response, mentioned that curfews helped save lives and protect Health Systems from the pandemic but its time for it to be lifted.
“TIME TO LIFT #CURFEW
Across Africa, curfews helped save lives & protect Health Systems from the pandemic because while virus behaviour is same night & day, human behaviour is not!”
“Police have used curfew enforcement for brutality & extortion 3) Compliance has waned – tactical time-bound curfews are more likely to be enforceable,” said Dr. Githinji.
He added that; “This also means continuous observance of individual public health measures like mask wearing in public, hand hygiene & avoiding unnecessary physical interactions. 18 months on, its time to move from RESPONSE to RECOVERY while watching when RESPONSE is still necessary until everyone is vaccinated,”.
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