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Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache says there are no plans to ban tourists from gaining access to the country after the Omicron COVID-19 variant was discovered.

In a press interview in Kisii county, the PS said the government has intensified surveillance at the entry points to the country and all individuals will be screened and required to show proof that they have been vaccinated.

Mochache further urged Kenyans to continue observing the Ministry of Health guidelines on combating the spread of the disease.

She further asked Kenyans to shun propaganda doing rounds in social media against the Covid-19 vaccines.

“We cannot continue with an economic depression because of COVID-19. Families must continue to interact and people must continue to move,” Mochache said.

Mochache said that Kenyans should observe safety guidelines put in place during this festive season, when the tourism industry is expected to pick up.

Moreover, Mochache reiterated the importance of Kenyans getting vaccinated and urged those who are still hesitant to take the jab to do so for them to be safe from the virus.

“What is important is the adherence to the MOH protocols, making sure that the basics of washing hands, wearing masks and keeping social distance are maintained and above all being vaccinated against the virus,” Mochache said.

The PS noted that the country’s economy should be kept running during this Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Kingdom has so far imposed travel bans on South Africa and its neighbours Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Namibia Lesotho and Botswana following the emergence of the new coronavirus variant.

However, the South African government has since reacted to the UK, saying the move was “rushed.”

UK’s Health Minister Sajid Javid said all six countries will be added to the red list, meaning UK residents and British and Irish nationals arriving home from those points of departure must undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.

Direct flights from the affected countries have been banned from entering the UK.

Her announcement comes after at least 59 cases of the new strain, which is feared to be more transmissible and evades vaccines, were detected in South Africa and Botswana as well as Hong Kong respectively.