Foreign Planes Still Allowed into Kenya amidst Covid-19 Scare

The Kenyan Government has announced that foreign planes will still be allowed in even as the fight against the coronavirus continues.

The government through the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), stated that new guidelines have been put to salvage the airlines’ industry which has been affected adversely by the covid19 outbreak.

KCAA however assured that all incoming passengers will be medically cleared at the port and the Government will also monitor their movements to ensure they self-quarantine for 14 days as required by the Public, Health and Safety standards.

“Incoming persons will be medically cleared at the entry points by port health and to self-quarantine or to a government-designated quarantine facility for 14 days,” KCAA said.

KCAA said that only planes carrying Kenyan passengers or foreigners with valid residential permits will be allowed into the country.

Accredited diplomats and members of international non-governmental organizations on medical emergency or evacuation or will be allowed in and out of the country after approval by the ministry of foreign affairs, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport.

“All incoming persons must fill in a form issued by port health on arrival before immigration that they commit to undergoing mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days,” KCAA stated.

The planes will also be allowed to ferry out foreigners who came into the country on business trips or as tourists where they will be taken to their countries of origin.

The airplanes’ crews will be allowed to in and accommodated at hotels within or near the airports with KCAA saying it will restrict their movements in the country.

Cargo planes have not been affected by the new rules even though the crew members will have to be medically cleared on arrival.KCAA said it never suspended cargo planes.

KCAA stated that those who fail to adhere to the new rules will be jailed or fined as they will have committed an offence constituted under the Public Health Act.

Kenya has so far reported seven cases of the Coronavirus. Globally, the virus has infected over 200,000 people and claimed the lives of over 8,000.

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