The government of Kenya has committed itself to bear the costs of targeted testing and quarantine facilities for its people just to help flatten the pandemic curve.
After a media briefing, Mr Mutahi Kagwe, Health Cabinet Secretary encouraged all Kenyans to go and test for coronavirus for free at the nearest health centres as all the costs would be paid for by the government.
Kagwe said this after realising the disappointing number of people that had gone for the free testing that had been announced earlier on in the country. Thus, he further emphasised and gave assurance to the people that the tests were legit.
“Kenyans should therefore forthwith not be afraid… let me repeat that, effective today government quarantine facilities will be occupied by those told to do so by the Ministry of Health and will be quarantined at the facilities free of charge. This is to facilitate those who may feel that they do not want to go for testing because of the cost of quarantine. That is no longer the case,” said Kagwe.
The government has further insisted that anyone tested positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined at their cost. They have appealed several times to the citizens to willingly come forward to be tested so as to help flatten the curve.
The government has also established that they may confine people against their will to be quarantined if they present a danger to themselves and the public.
The state has come up with an Act that states that a person can be placed on the place of isolation and detained there until, in the opinion of the medical officer of health, he is free from infection or able to be discharged without danger to the public health.
If the people fail to comply then the government will only be left with an option of taking drastic measures against the individuals. Should the people fail to help the government then the charge could result in a maximum fine of Sh30, 000, imprisonment of not more than three years or both.
