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EAC States to roll out digital Covid-19 certificates for truck drivers

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4 years ago

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Truck drivers lining up at the Namanga border for Covid19 testing

The move is hoped will eliminate traffic snarl-ups currently being experienced along border points. At the Uganda-Kenya border in Busia, traffic snarl-up has lasted over three weeks owing to drivers not adhering to laid down Covid-19 protocols. Drivers are expected to have a valid Covid-19-free certificate during transit. The certificate is to be renewed every 14 days.

The precautionary measures laid down by the Health ministry are meant to stop the spread of Covid-19 along transport corridors.

Roll out of digital Covid-19-free certificates is aimed at eliminating the possibility of truck drivers using fake documents to travel within the region.

This comes as Kenya crosses the 3,000 mark after recording 105 new Covid-19 cases bringing the total number of persons infected to 3,094. Some 175 persons, the highest number of recoveries so far, were also discharged from hospitals.

The Ministry of Health said that the roll-out of the electronic certificate will be implemented in a week’s time once the member states put in place technology that will link all the laboratories and ensure a seamless operation.

The move follow claims that truck drivers are using fake certificates to cross to neighbouring countries and into Kenya. It is also designed to ensure that truck drivers follow laid down protocols that include taking Covid-19 tests at the point of departure, 48 hours before the commencement of the journey.

“At the moment we are working on a small issue with the linkages of the laboratories, because you want your results to be visible by each partner state so that it can be a true attestation that test is valid,” said Acting Director of Public Health Dr Francis Kuria.

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