The Ministry of Health has given a notice to all County Government in the Country to prepare all health facilities to handle new COVID-19 variant that has been recorded in  Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong.

Dr. Patrick Amoth who is the acting Director General for Health, in an engagement with Kenyans on Twitter said, given the nature of transmission of COVID-19, it is inevitable that the variant may eventually get into the country.

Amoth said the country should prepare for an upsurge in number of cases which are likely to be severer amongst unvaccinated persons.

Amoth noted that the new variant carries 32 mutations which makes it highly transmissible and with potential for vaccine escape.

The DG urged the Governors to ensure that emphasis should be placed on availability of critical care facilities, piped oxygen and additional human resource surge capacity.

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Amoth also called on eligible Kenyans to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 given that the country has enough supply of the vaccines.

At the same time, Amoth added that all points of entry will conduct rigorous screening of all arriving passengers with proof of vaccination prior to entry into Kenya.

He said that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further advisory as more information emerges.

All Kenyans whether vaccinated or not are urged to continue adhering to the public health social measures- masks, social distancing, hand washing.

All inbound travelers into Kenya must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR taken 96 hours before arrival into the country. 

Quarantine and repeated testing to apply to all passengers from Southern Africa countries following emergence of new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant.