President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued new covid-19 guidelines ahead of full school reopening.
Hygiene
In an Executive Order issued on Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced all schools shall ensure that they have adequate hand washing stations corresponding to their student population.
“All schools shall ensure that they have adequate hand washing stations corresponding to their student population, in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education; schools experiencing water problems must ensure that there is adequate availability of hand sanitizers for both the students and the teachers,” stated head of state.
Aged 58 or Above
President Uhuru Further announced that teachers and other Staff who are aged 58 years or above shall deliver on their duties remotely.
He said: “Teachers and other Staff who are aged 58 years or above, or who have pre-existing conditions, shall deliver on their duties through remote means or by holding their classes/lessons in open spaces with natural flow of air.”Â
Visiting schools
On the issue of visits to schools, president Uhuru directed that all non-essential visits to schools by parents and guardians shall be prohibited and that will only be allowed in exceptional circumstatnces.
“All non-essential visits to schools by parents and guardians are prohibited and should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances – in fidelity with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education; with all visitors to schools being registered in the school records and being subject to all infection prevention protocols,” he stated.
Facemasks
Teachers and learners shall be required to put on masks appropriately and that hand-hygiene and physical spacing will be adhered to.
“All Teachers and Students shall wear appropriate facemasks when on the school premises or within school transport, in addition to strictly applying hand-hygiene and physical spacing,” president Uhuru directed.
Extra-curricular activities
President Uhuru further directed that all extra-curricular activities shall remain prohibited for the next 90 days.
“All extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music and prize giving days, involving more than one school remain prohibited for the next 90 days; and all exchange visits between schools shall remain prohibited for the same period,” head of state said.
Sick Teachers and Learners
School heads shall ensure that a register of sick learners or teacher is maintained and that in instances where severe illness occurs County Health Department shall be informed immediately.
“Principal/Headteacher of every school shall maintain a register of all sick pupils/students or teachers, and immediately inform the County Health Department of all instances of moderate to severe illness,” further instructed head of state.