Table 1 Timings and Duration of Mitigation strategies in Kenya.
From: Indirect health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a mixed methods assessment
Mitigation strategy | Mitigation strategy | Duration |
|---|---|---|
COVID-19 Screening | Mandatory screening at all points of entry | March 2020 |
Requirement for screening in all public places and buildings | March 2020 | |
COVID-19 Testing | Testing and contact tracing | March 2020 - Ongoing |
Mandatory COVID-19 testing for truck drivers. Only those with negative tests allowed into the country | May 2020 | |
Isolation and quarantine | 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all travelers coming into Kenya | March 2020 |
Government imposes mandatory quarantine for positive patients and their contacts | March 2020 | |
Physical distancing restrictions | Requirement for 1.5 meters physical distancing in public places | March 2020 - Ongoing |
Ban on all gatherings (including but not limited to political, social gatherings) | March 2020 | |
-Recommended working from home (except for employees in essential services) -State and public officers with pre-existing conditions working from home | March 2020 - Ongoing | |
Regulations limiting the number of passengers in public transport vehicles | March 2020 | |
Restaurants remain open but a ban on opening of bars (Initially only take-aways in restaurants but lifted after 30 days) | March 2020-Ongoing | |
Informal businesses remain open adhering to physical distancing measures | March 2020 | |
Closure of golf clubs, open sporting clubs and walking fields | April 2020 | |
Phased re-opening of worship places | July 2020 | |
Closing time for all bars and restaurants shall be 10pm every day | September 2020 | |
The permitted maximum size of religious gatherings is increased to one third of its normal sitting capacity | September 2020 | |
The permitted maximum number of persons attending funerals and weddings is reviewed upwards from 100 to 200 | September 2020 | |
The schools in Kenya reopen from 12 October 2020 starting with examination classes, i.e. Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students | 12th October 2020 | |
All political gatherings and rallies are suspended for a period of 60 days. Anyone wishing to hold such meetings to do so in town halls and limit the attendees to one- third seating capacity of the hall | November 2020 | |
All bars, restaurants and other establishments open to the public must close by 21h00 | November 2020 | |
Sanitation | Requirement for soap, water and hand sanitizers in public areas for hand and cough hygiene | March 2020 - Ongoing |
Mandatory wearing of face masks in public areas | April 2020 – On going | |
Movement restrictions | Suspension of travel for all persons coming into Kenya from any country with reported COVID-19 (except for Kenyan citizen and those with residence permits) | March 2020 |
Cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera (except for movement of food supplies and other cargo) | April 2020 – July 2020 | |
Cessation of movement into and out of Kilifi and Kwale (except for movement of food supplies and other cargo) | April 2020 – June 2020 | |
Cessation of movement into and out of Old town in Mombasa and Eastleigh in Nairobi | May 2020 -July 2020 | |
Cessation of movement persons and vehicles across the Kenya-Somalia and Tanzania International borders except for cargo vehicles. | May 2020 | |
Lifting of the intercountry cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera effective 7 July 2020; | 6th July 2020 | |
Resumption of local air travel under strict guidelines and protocols | 15th July 2020 | |
Resumption of international air travel under strict guidelines and protocols | 1st August 2020 | |
Cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru counties (except for movement of food supplies and other cargo) | April 2021 | |
Lifting of cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru counties (except for movement of food supplies and other cargo) | May 2021 | |
Education | Closure of all learning institutions | March 2020 - Ongoing |
Curfew | Nationwide curfew – timing of curfew has been varied over time | March 2020-ongoing |
Economics | State interventions to cushion Kenyans from economic shocks (tax refunds, rebates, waivers and cash transfers) | March 2020 |
Launch of a National Hygiene Programme that would create jobs for the youth working in 23 informal settlements in across 7 counties | April 2020 | |
Government asks Nairobi City County and Kenya Power not to disconnect water and electricity over unpaid bills. | April 2020 | |
Allocation KES 5 billion towards local manufacture of basic medical equipment and supplies for local use and export largely by the Jua kali sector | April 2020 | |
Economic stimulus amounting to KES 53.7 Billion (Infrastructure, Education, Health, Small, Medium Enterprises, Agriculture, Tourism, Environment, Manufacturing) | May 2020 | |
Workforce | Additional funds for the recruitment of additional health workers | March 2020 |
Development of medical insurance package for health care workers | April 2020 |