On Wednesday 18th October, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) temporarily suspended the issuance of new visas to visitors from Kenya and eleven other countries until further notice
“We have learned that the UAE has temporarily suspended the issuance of new visit visas until further notice for 12 countries,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a statement
He added that the government is seeking official confirmation from the UAE authorities in this matter. the suspension will not affect those with already issued visas.
The decision by the UAE authorities is believed to be related to the second wave of covid-19. It was not immediately clear how many categories of visas would be affected by the suspension. The UAE has various visa categories, including business, tourist, and student.
The other countries hit by the UAE government’s fresh visa directives include Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya.
The number of infections has been rising in Kenya for the last two months and the Ministry of Health said that the country was witnessing the second wave of Covid-19. The passivity of this disease has increased especially in major cities.
Since the relaxation of containment measures back in August, Kenya has confirmed over 20,000 cases of covid-19.
Kenya broke its daily record of cases, recording almost 1,500 infections in one day with the current death count stands at over 1,300 deaths, and over 70,500 confirmed cases.
The surge is caused by fewer people wearing masks and adhering to social distancing rules. Early this month, political rallies and large gatherings were banned by the president
As of Thursday, Kenya had confirmed 74,145 infections, some 50,658 recoveries. Medics have threatened to down their tools in two weeks after losing at least eight medics in the last weeks
Ministry of Health and doctors are urging people not to become complacent and to continue to follow the rules.