This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
As Kenya continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has taken a firm stance against those who defy the national curfew order. According to Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, 455 people have been placed in mandatory quarantine for two weeks.
Published on April 20, 2020, Kagwe explained that security forces are working closely with public health officials to ensure those found outside during the curfew period are sent into isolation.
“We have 33 Quarantine Centres that are currently active. We have closed down a good number of sites. At the moment, we have 483 individuals in the various centres across the country. We have also quarantined 455 other persons for defying the national curfew regulations,” said Kagwe.
The government has been emphasizing the importance of social distancing in arresting the virus spread. Kagwe warned Kenyans against complacency and disregarding health safety rules, stating that once someone is out during curfew hours, it is assumed that they have been exposed to the disease.
Kenya has so far confirmed 281 COVID-19 cases, 14 fatalities, and 69 recoveries, with 13,872 samples tested since the first case was reported last month.