Delta variants found in Kiambu as cases rise in KU hospital

Seven Delta variants have been identified from Covid-19 samples collected in Kiambu County by researchers.

A report by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri)/Welcome Trust notes that variants were from 15 samples taken this July. This comes in the face of surging cases of Covid-19 at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) this August necessitating all nurses on leave to be recalled, according to an internal memo.

To curb the spread of the variants, the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) on Covid-19, yesterday continued Phase 2 of mass vaccination in among other areas, Ruaraka, Roysambu, Embakasi, Makadara, and Kasarani.

"We used to go to either Mama Lucy, Mbagathi, or Kenyatta Hospital but it's a well-thought idea of bringing the services to the people," said Mihang’o MCA Paul Kados adding that before people begs the president to lift the curfew, they should first get vaccinated.  

"I am requesting the public to ignore the lies, vaccination is the only way we can save the lives of our people," said Kados.

Josephine Njoki, 80, showed up at Karagita Mihango Stadium to get her first dose because “I never listened to propaganda against the vaccines, because I remember when measles was a problem the only way we ensured safety for our children and everyone was by getting the vaccine."

Joseph Irungu Kimani, a boda boda operator said that he went for his first dose since his business involves interacting with many people “as boda boda riders we touch money, transport hundreds of people. So by getting vaccinated, I am protecting myself as well as our customers."

Irungu says that at first, he was sceptical about the jab, but he was convinced after scientists gave it an okay.

So far, 1,437 people have tested positive for Covid-19 from a sample size of 10,764 in the last 24 hours with the positivity rate standing at 13.4 per cent. Of the cases, 1,377 are Kenyans while 60 are foreigners.