Ministry of Health orders restaurants to be closing by 4pm

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun, 13 – Restaurants across the country are to be closing business by 4pm, following an order by the Ministry of Health.

Head of Public Health Francis Kuria said that the directive is in line with the measures the government had earlier adopted, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.

“Close your restaurant at 4pm as required by law and we have instructed through our enforcement officers to purge on those who are disobeying this,” said Kuria.

According to Kuria, a spot check done by the Ministry of Health revealed that several eateries were operating past the stipulated closing time, after the government extended the countrywide dusk to dawn curfew last week.

“The minute curfew was extended from 9pm most restaurants extended to operate even past 10pm,” he added.

Most hotels and restaurants closed from mid-March, soon after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case.

The Ministry of Health however allowed eateries to resume operations under strict COVID-19 protocols but also keen to ensure they bounce back to profitability.

The guidelines included meeting number of diners to 4 people for every 10 square meters of space, and staff member with a temperature above 37.5 degrees to be blocked from entering the premises.

The restaurants and eateries were also to install a contact-free thermometer and ensure that every person entering the premises has his/her body temperature taken.

Additionally, alcohol served in the premises was to be sold only with a meal in the restaurant and only be served to customers waiting to be served a meal, during the meal, or 30 minutes after the meal has ended.

However, those caught flouting these rules risk losing their licenses and permanent closure.

“If your permit has been taken do not bother reapplying, we will make sure it will not go through,” Head of Public Health Francis Kuria warned.