• BLOG SURF
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 16
The number of COVID-19 cases has exceeded 180 million worldwide and is still rising, with the economic downturn pushing 88 to 115 million people into extreme poverty in 2020, reversing the gains in global poverty reduction for the first time in a generation.
Kenya-which the WHO says now exceeds 210,000 cases – has taken several steps early on to reduce the spread of the pandemic such as restrictions on movement, closure of schools, and bans on social gatherings.
Restrictions were first put in place on March 12, 2020 and eased towards the end of 2020 when the number of COVID-19 cases started to drop. However, cases rose again early 2021 necessitating a second lockdown announced for five counties.
On May 2, 2021, the lockdown was lifted again allowing for openings of bars and restaurants, religious services, and schools as infection reduced.
To measure the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic and inform mitigation and recovery strategies, World Bank has launched a Rapid Response Phone Surveys in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 17 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
