The government has reinstated the requirement to wear face masks indoors as a containment measure to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the country, which in recent weeks, perhaps aided by lowering temperatures, has resumed its rise with rates as high as 15 percent of positives from swabs taken.

Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, in his announcement through national media, confirmed that citizens from today will have to wear face masks in enclosed places such as transportation, airplanes, offices, supermarkets and places of worship.

"We have had testimony of special situations such as indoor political meetings where there has been a super spread of COVID-19," Kagwe explained, "We also ask the faithful to wear face masks when they are inside places of worship.

The minister also again urged Kenyans who have not vaccinated to do so immediately.

"Those who have not been vaccinated should do so immediately," he specified, "And those who have been vaccinated and need a booster should also go and do so.

He also reiterated that all unvaccinated travelers arriving at any port of entry in Kenya should have a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
The sixth wave of Covid 19 in Kenya was one of the highest recorded in Africa, with a significant surge in cases placing Kenya in first place along with Mauritius.

On Sunday, June 19, the Covid-19 positivity rate in the country was 9.9 percent after 246 people tested positive out of a sample of 2,484 people tested in the past 24 hours.