Everything You Need To Know About COVID-19 Precautions and Ministry of Health Guidelines in Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a lot of restrictions have had to be put in place to curb its spread. Every country including Kenya, has its own COVID-19 guidelines, but the majority are quite similar.

The guidelines are meant to help us all protect ourselves as well as others from the virus and keep infections at a minimum so that hospitals and healthcare workers aren’t overwhelmed.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to keep viruses at bay. Use soap or an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Avoid touching your face, especially your nose or mouth throughout the day. Do not unnecessarily touch surfaces, and avoid handshakes or other physical contact. Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently especially those which are regularly touched, such as door handles, faucets and phone screens.

All public spaces in Kenya have put up a handwashing or hand sanitizing area and everyone is encouraged to use them.

Social Distancing

The COVID-19 virus spreads easily through physical contact, hence why it is important to reduce the ways people come in close contact with one another. An effective way to do this is to stay home as much as possible and avoid crowded, public places where it is difficult to keep a safe space between people.

When in public, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people. This has been enforced in most public places in Kenya including malls and public transport.

As of now, schools have reopened and learning is underway. All schools were directed to have hand-washing stations corresponding to their student population, and all extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music and prize-giving days, involving more than one school remain prohibited for the next 90 days; and all exchange visits between schools shall remain prohibited for the same period.

All grade levels resumed in-person learning on January 4, 2021 under heightened health and safety measures. Some universities and colleges opened in-person instruction in September 2020 after meeting strict COVID-19 regulations.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday extended the nationwide night curfew (10pm to 4am) until March 12, and announced a 60-day ban on all gatherings except funerals and weddings of up to 200 people. Bars and restaurants are also to close by 9pm.

Wear Masks

Wearing a mask protects you, and prevents the spread of viruses and other infections.Make sure to wash your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off. Also, make sure to wear your mask properly, taking care it covers both your nose and mouth.

Store your mask in a clean bag, and wash it every day if it’s a fabric mask, or dispose of it in a bin, if a medical mask.

Wearing a mask in public is mandatory and non-compliance attracts a fine of Ksh 20,000. The government will not provide services to individuals not wearing a mask.

Testing and Treatment

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Other symptoms may include loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, diarrhoea and a skin rash.

Stay home and self-isolate even if you have minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you have recovered. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Call 719 for further advice on what to do.

If you wish to get tested, you can go to a trusted health centre. Unfortunately, there isn’t free testing in Kenya so you’ll need to pay anywhere from Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 10,000 for a test. Results are usually ready in 24 to 48 hours.

Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. As there is no cure for the virus, the treatment will focus on alleviating discomfort from symptoms.

Travel

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health, has also tightened the rules and regulations of travelers jetting in and traveling out of the country.

Mandatory COVID-19 negative certificates will require digital verification at all points of entry, though self isolation or quarantine isn’t required. A passenger can gain entry into Kenya as long as they do not have a body temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F), a persistent cough, difficulty breathing or other flu-like symptoms and have a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test conducted within 96 hours prior to travel.

Domestic air travel resumed on July 15, 2020 and though a COVID-19 test isn’t required, the rest of the parameters on temperature and flu-like symptoms do.

Body temperature checks are also mandatory in most public spaces including malls, bars, restaurants and places of worship.

There are no inland border crossings except for commercial trucks.