Kenya won't reinstate tough restrictions over Omicron - PS Mochache

The Government has stepped up surveillance to stem infiltration of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant into the country.

Airports and other entry points have especially been marked out for intensive screening to contain the virus.

"As a government we are fully committed, ready and prepared; our borders and airports have been secured with screening being improved," PS Health Susan Mochache said on Sunday.

Mochache spoke at Nyaura Primary School in Nyaribari Chache, Kisii county, during an inspection as the facility is set to be modernised at a cost of Sh25 million.

Several cases of the variant have been identified in Europe - two in the UK, two in Germany, one in Belgium and another one in Italy, while a suspected case was found in the Czech Republic.

The variant was detected in South Africa last week.

Israel, where the new variant has been confirmed, had banned all foreigners from entering the country from midnight Sunday.

In Kenya, health officials will continue to ensure people coming to the country have take the jab.

Mochache said Kenyans have nothing to worry about as the current regime of vaccines were still effective to deal with any new mutations of the virus.

She urged Kenyans to continue turning up at health facilities for vaccination.

The country, she said, has enough stock of the jabs and Kenyans should capitalise on their availability at hospitals near them to be vaccinated.

The PS said the country is not out of the woods yet and Kenyans should continue observing Ministry of Health guidelines.

"Let's not grow weary of maintaining those guidelines because the virus is still mutating; but we are happy the vaccines available are still effective," said the PS.

Kenyans, he said, have a responsibility of observing the set Covid-19 protocols.

She urged Kenyans to shun propaganda on social media on vaccines.

Mochache said even as the government steps up surveillance, it would not initiate new measures that may affect the economy.

"The government is keen on ensuring that other economic activities are not affected; that is why we are not supporting severe containment measures being reintroduced," she said.

Edited by CM