This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
As Kenya continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, the country's Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth has issued a new warning: fist bumps are not safe.
On Wednesday, during his weekly engagement with Kenyans on social media, Dr. Amoth strongly recommended only non-contact greetings, citing the risk of spreading the virus through surfaces of the hands of an infected person.
Dr. Amoth's warning comes after the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country on March 13, leading to a ban on handshakes as a form of greeting.
Since then, many Kenyans have adopted new ways of greeting each other, with the fist bump, popularly known as 'kugota' or 'sheng', becoming a popular alternative.
However, Dr. Amoth's response to a question from a social media user, @yobbyJnr, has put an end to this trend. When asked if fist bumps reduce the risk of coming into contact with the novel virus, Dr. Amoth replied, 'NONE CONTACT GREETINGS are strongly recommended to minimize the possibility of coming in contact with the virus.'
Dr. Amoth's warning is part of a broader effort to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Kenya, which includes avoiding handshakes, wearing a facemask in public spaces, regularly sanitising one's hands with an alcohol-based sanitisers, and maintaining a physical and social distance.
