This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the ban on all gatherings, including bars, for another 30 days, citing a spike in coronavirus infections in the country.
The ban, which was initially implemented in March, has been credited with containing the spread of the virus, with Kenya registering only 2,600 cases in a period of three months.
According to President Kenyatta, relaxing the interventions by 20% would lead to 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths by December 2020, while a 40% relaxation would result in 300,000 infected and 40,000 deaths by November 2020.
He noted that the country does not meet the list of three thresholds for relaxation, which include a reduction in the number of infections, a prepared healthcare system, and access to testing, isolation, and quarantine.
President Kenyatta emphasized that the country must not be overwhelmed by the pandemic and that the healthcare system must be prepared to take on a surge in infections.
