The government has suspended direct flights from northern Italy over the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Health
Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced Tuesday that his team has
suspended flights specifically from Verona and Milan to the Kenyan
coast, after consultation with the Italian Embassy in Kenya and other
stakeholders.
"This part of Italy
is currently experiencing coronavirus incidents which could affect
safety of Kenyans," CS Kagwe said in a press release.
Kilifi,
Malindi and Watamu are tourist destinations popular with Italians. Over
the years, north coast has earned the nickname ‘Little Italy’ because
of its high number of Italian residents and tourists.
Last
Weekend, the Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caterers Association (KHCA) North
Coast Chairperson Maureen Awuor, who is also the Ocean Beach Resort
general manager, said hoteliers in Malindi risk losing businesses in the
coming weeks following the worldwide spread of the deadly coronavirus
also known as Covid-19.
Already, some hotels have begun receiving cancellations and postponements of travel dates from Europe, especially from Italy.
The global death toll from the new
coronavirus epidemic surpassed 3,000 Tuesday after dozens more died at
its epicentre in China and cases soared around the world with a six
fatalities on US soil.
The virus has now infected more than 88,000 people and spread to over 60 countries after first emerging in China late last year.
Kenya
has moved to restrict travel, saying those coming into the country from
Italy, South Korea and Iran will also be required to self-quarantine
for 14 days.
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