Kenya government on Wednesday said it was considering lifting a ban on night clubs as the demand to completely ease covid-19 restrictions gains momentum.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked bar owners and the Health Ministry to jointly develop guidelines that would promote social distance and hygiene in the quest to strike a balance between promoting the hospitality industry and curbing the spread of Covid-19.
“In the next 30 days, bar owners, in consultation with the Ministry of Health will develop self-regulating mechanisms as part of their civic responsibility to their clientele, in order to allow their resumption,” Uhuru said on Wednesday during a televised address.
Kenya is the worst hit compared to its neighbours in the EAC regional bloc. So far the government has recorded 33,016 positive cases and 564 deaths. The alarming infections propelled the government last month to ban restaurants from selling alcohol to contain the virus.
The East African economy shut down bars on March 25.
President Uhuru has also extended a nationwide curfew for 30 days, saying covid-19 cases were rising in areas outside Nairobi and Mombasa — which were under lockdown for three months, adding that infections were slowing in the two cities.
“This crisis has, however, begun to percolate to the counties. The new frontier of this invisible enemy is increasingly shifting to the counties and to our rural areas,” Uhuru said.
The Kenyan leader ordered bars and nightclubs shut for another 30 days – but increased the number of people allowed to attend weddings, funerals and other events to 100 from 15.
He however, allowed hotels with residence or room services to sell alcohol, a month after he banned restaurants from selling beers and spirits.
In July, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala gave lodges, hotels and resorts a go-ahead to sell alcohol to their checked-in clients inside their rooms and not in public areas within the facilities.
source https://taarifa.rw/kenya-to-open-night-clubs-despite-surge-in-covid-19-cases/
