Kenya Government Allows Restaurants to Reopen, Serve Alcohol

Restaurants in Kenya have been given a green light to reopen to the public, weeks after they were ordered to shut down to avert the spread of Covid-19.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe however stated that the eateries must put in place strict social distancing measures to be allowed to operate.

Speaking on Monday, April 27th, Kagwe indicated that the restaurants will only be allowed to operate between 5 am and 4 pm and are free to serve alcohol with food. He, however, reiterated that bars remain closed.

All restaurant workers must be tested for Covid-19 before they are allowed to serve customers. Kagwe further directed the eating joints to limit the number of customers to four people for every 10 square meter space.

“Those restaurants that are going to open must limit the number of persons who are going to be in the restaurant so that they can be able to keep social distances that we have recommended,” said Kagwe in a media briefing.

In addition, tables in the dining areas must be spaced 1.5 meters apart and customers must sit at least 1.5 meters from each other.

The announcement came after Kenya confirmed eight new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, raising the tally of infections in the country to 363. The number of Covid-19 recoveries also rose to 114 while the death toll remains at 14.