Kenya governor under fire after putting Hennessy bottles in coronavirus care packages

Recipients of Nairobi politician Mike Sonko's COVID-19 care packages can expect to receive the typical food staples except for one item – alcohol.
Mr Sonko, the governor of the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi, confirmed in a media briefing on Tuesday that his care packages include a few small bottles of the cognac, Hennessy.
The governor justified the inclusion of alcohol as "throat sanitiser".
"I think from the research conducted by the World Health Organisation and various organisations, it has been believed that alcohol plays a major role in killing the coronavirus," Mr Sonko said in a video.
But the World Health Organisation has explicitly stated that alcohol does not protect against coronavirus, and advises people to minimise its consumption.
In a post released by the WHO on Tuesday, the organisation said that alcohol can weaken the health of an individual and make them more vulnerable to viruses including coronavirus.
Githinji Gitahi, the CEO of Amref Health Africa, a medical nonprofit, in a post on Twitter condemned Mr Sonko's claim and appealed to Kenyans to dump the alcohol.

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This isn't the first time Mr Sonko has been met with public scrutiny. The governor was arrested late last year on corruption charges, and was forced to surrender some of his duties to the national government.
Meanwhile, Hennessy has refuted through local media the claims by the Nairobi governor that its drink in particular or alcohol in general can ward off coronavirus contagion.
"Hennessy would like to stress that the consumption of our brand or any other alcoholic beverage does not protect against the virus," reads part of its statement to Nairobi News.
Key information about the coronavirus pandemic. (9News)

Coronavirus: what you need to know

What is the difference between COVID-19 and the flu?
The symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are very similar, as they both can cause fever and respiratory issues.
Both infections are also transmitted the same way, via coughing or sneezing, or by contact with hands, surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus.
The speed of transmission and the severity of the infection are the key differences between COVID-19 and the flu.
The time from infection to the appearance of symptoms is typically shorter with the flu. However, there are higher proportions of severe and critical COVID-19 infections.
What is social distancing?
Social distancing involved minimising contact with people and maintaining a distance of over one metre between you and others.
When practicing social distancing, you should avoid public transport, limit non-essential travel, work from home and skip large gatherings.
It is okay to go outdoors. However, when you do leave home, avoid touching your face and frequently wash your hands.
Source:9news

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