President Uhuru Kenyatta has given alcohol lovers across the country a reason to smile broadly after he lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol by bars and restaurants.

Announcing amendments to measures meant to combat Covid-19, the president said the order will take effect on Tuesday, coming amid heightened calls for him to open up the economy. 

Kenyans, especially on social media platforms, had been rallying for reopening of the economy, particularly bars and entertainment joints amid fatigue over tough Covid-19 measures. 

Bars and restaurants have however been ordered to close by 10pm, even as he stressed on the need for Kenyans to take personal responsibility for the country to win the Coronavirus fight. 

Kenyatta at the same time extended the nationwide curfew by 60 days but amended the time to 11pm-4am from Tuesday to replace the previous 9pm-4am. 

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The maximum number of guests allowed to attend funerals and weddings was changed from 100 to 200 with places of worship now permitted to host up to a third of their full capacities. 

The head of state once again failed to announce the new schools reopening date, instead left the onus to the Ministry of Education in consensus with all other education stakeholders. 

"Learning institutions should only be reopened when we have and can sufficiently guarantee the safety of all our children. Let us not focus on when schools will reopen but on how they will reopen," said Kenyatta. 

Parents will now have to wait a while longer for Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to announce when schools will reopen and in compliance with Covid-19 safety measures. 

This comes as Kenya’s deaths from the virus rose to 700 after 9 more people died overnight, with the caseload also rising to 38,168 after 53 new cases were confirmed within 24 hours. 

President announced the new measures at the National Covid-19 Conference at KICC in Nairobi, convened to discuss steps taken and their effectiveness in flattening the curve since the first virus case was announced on March 13.