State gives employers and landlords powers to report COVID-19 suspects

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe

New COVID-19 rules gazetted by the health ministry will give powers to the landlords and  Employers to directly report to the government any COVID-19 suspects.
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Landlords and employers are directed by the new law to report to the government any suspected case of persons in their premises or place of work who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.

This is one of the new regulations gazetted by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday last week, under the Public Health (Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19) Rules, 2020.


The new rules are part of the government's steps in stopping the spread of COVID-19, which has claimed 6 people with 158 reported cases in the country.


The new rules give CS Kagwe ability to push for controlled lockdowns in infected areas, while also designating private facilities that could be used as isolation and treatment centres.


“Every owner, person in charge of, or occupier of premises, and every employer and head of a household, who suspects that any person who is residing at his or her premises or who is in his or her employment, is suffering from COVID-19, shall notify a medical officer, public health officer, a medical practitioner and or the nearest administrator or take that person to a medical officer, medical practitioner or health facility for treatment,” the regulations excerpt read.


Those who will be caught by these new rules will be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh20,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.