MCK asks State to ban news conferences

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on Thursday, urged the National Government to provide live feeds for coronavirus updates in the country to help journalists avoid crowding in news conferences.

In new guidelines by MCK’s Media Sector Emergency Response Team, the council called upon the office of the Government Spokesperson to suspend all live press conferences as a way avoiding large gatherings.

According to MCK, the best way for journalists to be able to comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines on Covid-19 is to avoid exposure by being in crowded places.

The council has also urged media houses to prioritise the safety of their employees.

“The National Government, County departments, agencies, and private sector should suspend all live press conferences as currently constituted in order to comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines in the containment of Covid-19,” read part of the council’s statement.

“National government should facilitate the provision of live feeds to national and community level media stations while urging the Ministry of Health to provide content on COVID-19 to media houses for public communication.  This is particularly critical to avoid a congregation of large numbers of journalists in one location,” the council added.

MCK, however, said that in case journalists are needed to cover breaking news, then the government should provide all necessary protective gear so as to protect them from the highly contagious virus.

The government of Kenya has so far confirmed seven cases of coronavirus, the virus has so far claimed 8,800 lives and infected 220,000 people globally.

The Government of Kenya has put in place measures to help reduce the potential spread of the fatal virus like ordering the closure of all learning institutions and suspending the admission of foreigners with no residence status into the country.