Five counties put under lockdown as Covid-19 numbers soar

President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared a cessation of movement in Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos,  Kiambu and Nakuru counties.

The five zoned areas were put under the cessation of movement for the next 30 days beginning midnight on Friday.

The president declared the five counties as “disease infected areas” and suspended all public gatherings in the five counties.

Uhuru said Kenya’s Covid positivity rate has jumped tenfold from 2.6% in January to 22% in March.

“If you test 100 Kenyans for Covid-19, 20 will test positive. Rate of infection up 10 times,” he said

In Nairobi, six out of ten will test positive.

“Nairobi county accounts for nearly 60% of all recorded cases. This means that out of 5 people, 3 are more likely to be positive for COVID-19,” he said.

According to the President, the third wave is expected to peak in the next 30 days.

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Curfew in the disease infected areas will start from 8 pm to 4 am.

Uhuru also suspended operations of bars in the five counties until further notice.

The president directed that the sell of alcohol and eateries in the five counties is also prohibited.

He directed that all hotels and restaurants to provide take away services only.

“The operations of bars, restaurants and eateries in the other 42 Counties shall continue as is, but they shall at all times be conducted in strict fidelity to Ministry of Health Guidelines, failure to which appropriate action against management, staff, patrons, and premises shall be taken,” he said.

Following the sharp increase in Covid -19 cases in the country, the President ordered all hospitals to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to two visitors per patient.