Speaking on Wednesday, November 11, Duale said Kenya would not detain passengers travelling through the country simply because their destinations require them to undergo quarantine or provide evidence of being free from Ebola.
The CS maintained that the Ministry of Health would not issue travel clearance documents or Ebola-free certificates to passengers seeking to satisfy entry conditions imposed by foreign governments.
He argued that such requirements should not be transferred to Kenya, insisting that travellers must not be forced to remain in the country to meet another jurisdiction's public health regulations.
"Kenya will not serve as a quarantine centre for any jurisdiction. Travellers from other countries will not be held in Kenya to meet another country's entry requirements," Duale stated.
The Health CS also criticised foreign jurisdictions that have introduced travel and visa restrictions affecting Kenyan citizens and passengers passing through the country.
He questioned the justification for imposing blanket restrictions despite Kenya's decision to openly communicate developments surrounding the Ebola outbreak.
Duale urged the affected countries to reconsider their decisions, arguing that Kenya had made significant progress in containing the disease.
He disclosed that the country had no Ebola patient undergoing treatment, no contacts remaining in quarantine and no evidence of community transmission.
The CS further assured Kenyans and international visitors that normal activities would continue, noting that the government had not introduced restrictions on domestic movement, public gatherings, tourism or business operations.
His remarks came after the Ministry of Health discharged the final Ebola patient from isolation, marking a major step towards ending the outbreak.
According to Duale, November 12 will mark the beginning of the mandatory 42-day countdown before Kenya can officially declare the outbreak over, provided no new infections are reported.
The government has maintained that the outbreak will only be declared officially ended after completing the required monitoring period without recording another case.
https://nairobileo.co.ke/news/article/31408/kenya-will-not-serve-as-a-quarantine-centre-for-any-country-duale
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