The current COVID-19 pandemic has exposed Kenyans to state-enforced public health protocols at odds with their daily schedules. These include quarantine, curfew and cessation of movement across specific counties, including Mombasa. Put together, the three answer to isolation and containment. Whereas quarantine separates and restricts movement of people who have potentially been exposed to a contagious disease in order to limit disease spread, curfews require people to remain indoors between specified hours. From 27th March 2020, the hours between 7pm and 5am were declared as curfew hours in a Presidential statement.
Such measures can produce a wide range of psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, feelings of confusion, anger and fear, and even substance misuse. Overwhelming feelings of boredom, loneliness, anger, isolation and frustration are related to poor mental health outcomes. In the post-quarantine/isolation period, loss of employment due to the depressed economy and the stigma around the disease are also likely to lead to mental health problems. Read more https://uonresearch.org/blog/mental-health-under-the-cloud-of-covid-19/
