All bars are required to hire Covid-19 liaison officers to ensure that drinkers observe protocols meant to curb the spread of the disease in the facilities.
The officers will be dealing with restricting the number of revelers in a bar to comply with the Ministry of Health Covid-19 protocols on social distancing.
“Every establishment shall appoint and adequately train a Covid-19 liaison officer.
“The liaison officer shall be the point of contact with the Ministry of Health, Sub County Liquor Licensing Committee and other sector players keep abreast of the emerging health, safety and hygiene information and preventive measures related to Covid-19,” read part of the regulations.
In the new rules, bars will be required to close dance floors and minimize contact between staff and revelers.
Implement a daily attendance register, including name, ID, contact details and temperatures, of all employees, delivery personnel and patrons who visits the bars.
The establishments will also have to display signage to show that they have reached the maximum number of drinkers to meet the social distancing requirements.
Designated waiting and collection areas for goods and customers will be required to be spacious to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Bars will also be required to display signage to show that a maximum number of drinkers has been achieved on the premises.
Kenya has confirmed more than 80,000 Covid-19 cases from 47,843 on October 23, reflecting average daily infections of 998 in the last 30 days after the easing of the restrictions.
”It is not the time to give up, and we need to join our Health response team in fighting this war. Our best bet is prevention and all of us together as the first line of defense must make our best efforts to contain the spread of the disease and accelerate out of this crisis and sustain ourselves for the years ahead.” stated the Cabinet Secretary Industrialization Trade and Enterprise Development, Betty Maina.
Bars committed to cut sitting capacity by half under social distance rules, have contact free-bill payment, restrict drinking at the counters as the industry turned to self-regulation due to a lack of regulations from the State.
By Christabel Airo