This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
On June 13, 2020, the Ministry of Health in Kenya issued a directive for restaurants across the country to close by 4pm in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
According to Francis Kuria, the Head of Public Health, this directive is in line with the measures the government had earlier adopted to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“Close your restaurant at 4pm as required by law and we have instructed through our enforcement officers to purge on those who are disobeying this,” Kuria warned.
The directive comes after a spot check by the Ministry of Health revealed that several eateries were operating past the stipulated closing time, despite the government extending the countrywide dusk to dawn curfew last week.
Most hotels and restaurants had closed from mid-March, soon after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case. However, the Ministry of Health allowed eateries to resume operations under strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure they bounce back to profitability.
The guidelines included meeting a number of diners to 4 people for every 10 square meters of space, and staff members with a temperature above 37.5 degrees being blocked from entering the premises.
Additionally, restaurants and eateries were required to install a contact-free thermometer and ensure that every person entering the premises has their body temperature taken.
Those caught flouting these rules risk losing their licenses and permanent closure.
