This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Kenya's Sports Ministry Unveils Guidelines for Resumption of Sporting Activities ¶
On August 24, 2020, Kenya's Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts unveiled guidelines for the resumption of sporting activities in the country, following a virtual meeting.
The guidelines were developed by an advisory committee chaired by Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Noor Hassan, which was appointed by Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amina Mohamed on July 1, 2020.
The committee's work was necessary due to the halt of sporting activities in March 2020, following the first confirmed case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
According to the guidelines, sports organizations must ensure the dissemination of information about COVID-19 to athletes, officials, staff, and volunteers. Venue operators must also ensure safe environments, carry out regular cleaning and disinfection, and make handwashing facilities, sanitizers, and thermometers available.
Additionally, officials, media personnel, and staff working in sports venues during events must take COVID-19 tests. Press conferences will be prohibited, except for flash interviews for athletes, which must be conducted while respecting social distancing measures.
Handshakes, hugs, and the exchange of uniforms will also be prohibited. Team event organizers must gather teams in one place prior to and until the end of the championship, and keep records and contact information of all athletes and other persons for ease of contact tracing.
Any suspected cases of COVID-19 must be processed in line with the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health. Signage will be placed at every entrance and strategic locations to remind all persons of the COVID-19 measures.
Body temperature checks will be conducted on all persons at the time of entry to the venue, and anyone with a body temperature reading above 37.5 will not be allowed into any sporting venue.
CS Amina Mohamed expressed hope that the guidelines will be completed as soon as possible and a sports calendar will be rolled out. CAS Noor Hassan also expressed confidence that sporting activities will return to the country soon.
