Kenya confirms three cases of Covid-19 Omicron variant
Ministry of Health has confirmed three cases of the fast-spreading Covid-19 Omicron variant.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says the Omicron cases were detected among travelers who have been quarantined upon arrival in the country.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with the Council of Governors at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort, Kagwe said that the variant is spreading so fast.
“We have detected Omicron variant among travellers. It is just a matter of time before it becomes the dominant variant across the world,” Kagwe said.
“Fortunately the only saving grace is that a lot of people are not getting severe sicknesses. A lot of it is mild headaches, fever among others.”
However, Mutahi has ruled out drastic containment measures imposed at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic instead advocating for adherence to measures already in place to manage the Omicron variant of the virus confirmed in the country on Wednesday.
The latest development comes as the country has ramped up vaccination in efforts to contain the further spread of the virus.
This comes a day after Rwanda detected its first six cases of Omicron variant, prompting the government to escalate pandemic measures, including shutting down nightclubs and extending quarantines for international travellers.
Visitors will now be required to quarantine for three days instead of the current 24 hours, the government announced, after recording six cases of the Omicron variant in travellers and their contacts.
“A Covid-19 PCR test will be taken upon arrival and an additional test, taken on day three and on day seven at own cost, from the arrival date,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement yesterday.
The current midnight to 4 am curfew will remain in place while nightclubs have been ordered to close their doors barely three months after reopening.
Omicron, first detected by South Africa and reported to the WHO on November 24, has a large number of mutations, leading many governments to swiftly reimpose containment measures to rein in transmission.
