What is the coronavirus?
Coronavirus refers to a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). The current news revolves around a new coronavirus, which has come to be known by the designation COVID-19. It was first reported in Wuhan City, China, and there have been reports of it in other countries. It was transmitted through contact with livestock and dead animals in the markets in Wuhan City initially and later via infected individuals.General safety tips
You can’t always assume someone has contracted the new coronavirus if they start coughing or sneezing suddenly. However, to be sure, there are ways you can protect yourself.- Wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or a cough.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
- Stay away from markets selling live animals and avoid unprotected contact with animals.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked foods. Use different boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods.
- If you wear a facemask, make surer to cover your mouth and nose and avoid touching the mask when it’s on.
- Throw away single-use facemasks immediately after use and wash your hands immediately afterwards.
- Seek medical attention immediately and share your previous travel history with your healthcare provider.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or flexed elbow – throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands.
- Avoid spitting in public.
- Avoid close contact with other people to prevent infection.
- Do not travel if you start developing the symptoms for the coronavirus.
What to expect at the airport
Travellers arriving from outside Kenya to Kenyan airports will have to go through mandatory screening. The airports will supply hand sanitizers at various locations, including on airport buses. Public awarness sessions were held with various airport stakeholders including taxi operators.What about visas and ports of entry?
Find out about the latest announcements regarding visas and ports of entry by visiting the IATA Travel Centre. We will update this page as new information gets released. Make sure to stay updated on your flight status.All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart will not be held liable for loss or inconvenience resulting from the use of out-dated or incorrectly noted information.