Kenyans resume work as Covid-19 cases soar
Nairobi Metropolitan has gone back to normal as signalled by congested traffic along University way on May 5, 2020, the day 45 more people tested positive for Covid-19. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- There has been a 16 percent increase in people accessing their places of work in the last seven days.
- A spot check by the Nation shows there has been an increased inflow of people in Nairobi city centre, with increased traffic jams.
More Kenyans across the country have started going back to work in the past week, a new report has revealed.
According to Google’s latest weekly Covid-19 Community Mobility Report released on Monday, there has been a 16 percent increase in people accessing their places of work in the last seven days.
Although the rate of people going to work is still below the normal baseline, the report shows that from April 26, the rate has been slowly increasing towards the baseline, meaning, more people are leaving their homes for their workstations.
REDUCED MOVEMENT
The current rate is at 19 per cent below the normal baseline, significantly higher than the rate one month ago, which stood at 50 per cent below the baseline.
“This has seen reduced movement in residential areas to 20 per cent from 25 per cent,” the statement by Google Kenya reads.
A spot check by the Nation shows there has been an increased inflow of people in Nairobi city centre, with increased traffic jams. Similarly, places such as banks and business stalls have had an increase in human traffic.
A contributing factor could be the April 27 government directive allowing restaurants to operate between 5am and 4pm.
The Community Mobility Report reveals that people are avoiding crowded places such as restaurants and markets.
“Recreational areas such as restaurants, shopping centres and movie theatres have recorded a five per cent reduction in movement,” the statement said.
