Covid-19: Kenya records 137 new cases as curve rises

Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman. [Standard]

Kenya has recorded 137 more Covdi-19 cases in the last 24 hours raising the caseload to 39,586. 

The cases come from a sample size of 1,258 which puts the country's cumulative tests so far to 566, 536.

Out of the new cases, 94 are male while 43 are females. Still, with the youngest person being one-year-old and the oldest person 81.

On a positive note, 296 patients recovered from the bug increasing the number of recoveries to 27,331.

Out of the new recoveries, 228  are from the home-based care programme while 68 have been discharged from different health institutions.

A week after the tight Covid-19 protocols were lifted, Dr. Rashid Aman has reported an increase in the country’s positivity rate above 10 per cent. The Health CAS has attributed the rise of the curved to increased cases in Prisons and refugee camps.

“We have noticed that there has been an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in our prisons particularly in Nairobi Industrial Remand Prison. Of the 64 cases that Nairobi reported, 35 are prisoners. 33 out of the 34 cases in Turkana come from Kakuma refugee camp. 10 of those cases are new arrivals in the camp,” said Dr Aman.

The CAS has issued new directives that will prevent fresh admission of prisoners to all prisons in an attempt to ensure that the rise in infections in the facilities is contained.

Dr Aman has also asked Kenyans to avoiding large gathering brought about by political leaders and make a choice of having a Safe country and a second wave.

“Our worry and concern is on the re-energized political frenzy sweeping the country and spear headed by our political leaders that could roll back all the gains we have made in curtailing the spread of this disease,” said the health CAS.

Nairobi has recorded 64 new infections, the highest in the country followed by Turkana with 34 cases, Mombasa 12, Kiambu 8, Uasin Gishu 6, Trans Nzoia 4, Meru 1, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Laikipia, Machakos and Tharaka Nithi one case each.

In Nairobi, Starehe has recorded 35 cases Westlands 13, Dagoretti North 4, Langata 3, Makadara 2, Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Embakasi Central, Kasarai, Kibra, Roysambu and Ruaraka one case each.

Unfortunately, 8 patients have succumbed to the virus raising the number of fatalities to 743.