With a majority of schools in Kenya shut as part of the measures to limit potential spread of coronavirus, Longhorn, a publishing firm, has launched a free learning portal for quarantined primary and secondary schoolchildren.

In a statement on Wednesday, Longhorn Publishers said it had provided access to its curriculum platform to support continued learning for the period that schools will remain closed.

“Grade 1 to form 4 learners will access learning materials on Longhorn’s online portal, elearning.longhornpublishers.com. The materials provided cover both the new Competency Based Curriculum and also 8-4-4 system,” the publisher said.

“Learners with both smartphones and feature phones will access the learning materials either on the internet or by dialling our USSD code *864#,” said Maxwell Wahome, Longhorn CEO.

Kenya's Health ministry on Wednesday confirmed three more coronavirus cases, raising the total to seven.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday ordered schools and tertiary institutions shut to prevent possible spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

He also ordered a ban on entry into the country of foreigners from virus-hit countries.

Covid-19—first reported in Wuhan, China, last December—has claimed over 7,500 people globally with 194,029 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Regionally, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan have reported presence of the respiratory illness.