With a sudden decision this afternoon, the Kenyan Government has suspended direct charter flights from northern Italy, i.e. from Verona and Milan, to the Kenyan coast, following the global coronavirus epidemic.
The suspension is effective as of today, 3 March 2020 and it is not only a decision announced by voice, like yesterday morning, but was followed by an official statement, so apart from the usual and understandable caution waiting for the website Viaggiare Sicuri of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to publish it, there should be no doubt.
The Coronavirus Emergency Task Force (NERCC), set up last Friday by President Uhuru Kenyatta and composed of the Ministers of Health, Transport, Foreign, Interior and National Security, as well as the top leaders of the airport authorities, met today under the chairmanship of national health experts to examine the situation and the state of the expansion of coronavirus infections in the countries deemed to be outbreaks.
At the end of the meeting, Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna issued this statement.
"Following consultations with the Embassy of Italy in Kenya and others, the National Coronavirus Emergency Response Committee (NERCC) concluded that flights from Northern Italy, particularly Verona and Milan, which usually have charter flights to our coast, will be suspended as of March 3, 2020. A few hours later the Minister of Health, Mutahi Kagwe issued the relevant official communication replied by major national newspapers and other media,stating that this part of Italy is currently going through a phase of coronavirus contagion that could compromise the safety of Kenyans and that he will continue to monitor the situations and purposes changed as the situation evolves.
Three Neos charter flights would leave on March 4 (two from Milan and one from Verona) and in any case they must land in Mombasa to return passengers who have finished their holidays in Kenya. After that there will probably be no more direct flights from Milan and Verona to Mombasa until the decision to lift the suspension.