The Public Health (COVID-19 General Public Safety) Rules

Legal Notice 129 of 2020

This is the latest version of this Legal Notice.
Citation
Legal Notice 129 of 2020
Primary work
Public Health Act
Date
31 December 2022
Language
English
Type
Legal Notice
Publication
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LAWS OF KENYA

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT

THE PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY) RULES

LEGAL NOTICE 129 OF 2020

  • Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXII—No. 142 on 24 July 2020
  • Commenced on 14 July 2020
  1. [Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]
1.CitationThese Rules may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 General Public Safety) Rules.
2.InterpretationIn these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—"Gathering" means any gathering or meeting or public gathering, meeting, grouping, assembly, crowd, or procession, in or on any public or private road, space, any building, place or premises including wholly or partly in the open air, and including any premises or place used for sporting, entertainment, recreational, cultural, political or social purposes;“Public Place” means any outdoor, indoor, enclosed, or partially enclosed area which is open to the public or any part of the public, or to which members of the public ordinarily have access, and includes a workplace and public service vehicles;
3.Hygiene conditions
(1)Every person who is in a Public Place shall—
(a)maintain a physical distance of at least one (1) metre from the next person; and
(b)wear a face mask that covers the mouth and nose.
(2)Every organisation, business entity or any other trader, whether in an open air market, enclosed premises or any other Public Place shall—
(a)provide a handwashing station with soap and water or an alcohol based sanitizer approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards for use at the entrance of its premises;
(b)put in place measures to ensure that a physical distance of at least one metre is maintained between persons accessing or within its premises;
(c)disinfect its premises using a disinfectant approved by the Kenya Bureau of standards at least three times a day;
(d)for premises where employees operate in shifts, disinfect its premises using a disinfectant approved by the Kenya Bureau of standards at the end of each shift subject to (c) above; and
(e)screen every person entering its premises using a thermometer gun and a person whose body temperature exceeding thirty-seven point three degrees Celsius (37.3°C) shall not be allowed into the premises;
(3)A person who contravenes sub paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence.
4.Prohibition of gatherings
(1)All gatherings are prohibited except as may be otherwise permitted in any other rules made under the Public Health Act.
(2)For purposes of these Rules, a funeral shall not be regarded as a prohibited gathering provided that—
(a)attendance at a funeral shall be limited to fifteen people;
(b)night vigils shall not be held in relation to a funeral;
(c)hygiene conditions under rule 3 are adhered to;
(d)the conditions set out in rule 8(1) of the Public Health (Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19) Rules are adhered to.
(3)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence.
5.Disposal of bodiesSave as may be otherwise permitted pursuant to the Public Health Act, where a person infected with COVID-19 dies, the body shall be interred or cremated within forty eight hours from the time of death.
6.PenaltyA person who commits an offence under these Rules shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.
7.EnforcementThese Rules shall be enforced by the National and County Governments as the respective health authorities in line with the provisions of the Public Health Act.
8.Application of other RulesIn instances where other Rules under the Public Health Act provide for higher safety standards than the ones set out herein, those higher safety standards shall apply.
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History of this document

31 December 2022 this version
24 July 2020
14 July 2020
Commenced