This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced the extension of curfew and lockdowns in select counties until July 6, as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a virtual meeting of the national and county governments coordinating summit, Uhuru noted that most counties were not well-equipped to handle the surge in coronavirus cases.
He directed all counties to set up 300-capacity beds in each region as an irreducible minimum for lifting travel bans.
Uhuru's decision comes as the country records a spike in COVID-19 cases, with 247 new cases reported on July 3, pushing the tally to 7,188.
According to Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, only 12 counties had met the 300 per county isolation beds threshold as of June 25.
The nationwide curfew was first declared effective from Friday, March 27, and has been extended several times, with the latest extension set to end on July 6.
Uhuru's decision to extend the curfew and lockdowns has sparked debate, with some arguing that it is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, while others argue that it is too restrictive.
As the country continues to navigate the pandemic, Uhuru has emphasized the importance of county readiness in determining the national readiness to reopen the country.
