This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, Kenya will resume local flights, while international flights will resume on August 1, 2020, as announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia on Wednesday.
According to Macharia, passengers arriving in the country without flu symptoms will not be required to undergo mandatory quarantine. Additionally, airline crews who do not display flu-like symptoms will also be exempted from quarantine.
However, travelers must have valid tickets and Covid-19 free certificates upon arrival. The CS emphasized that only passengers with signs of high temperatures will be put on mandatory quarantine.
“Passengers shall be exempted from quarantine on arrival if their body temperatures are below 37.5° and they show no Covid-19 symptoms,” Macharia said.
Some Kenyans have expressed concerns that the government's decision will lead to an upsurge in Coronavirus disease cases. Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation Mohammed Hersi, however, believes that the CS is being misquoted, stating that passengers cannot board an airplane without showing a Covid-19 free certificate.
Locally, the decision is seen as a positive step for domestic tourism, which has suffered significantly due to the pandemic. Business journalists argue that this will have a positive impact on the tourism sector, while others believe it is a wrong move, especially at a time when community infections are on the rise.
Experts have warned that easing coronavirus restrictions will lead to an upsurge of infections, citing Madagascar's experience after lifting its lockdown.
