Covid-19: Kenya posts 1,008 new cases, 21 deaths as new measures take effect

Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman. [Standard]

Kenya has continued to post higher Covid-19 figures just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta voiced a passionate appeal for observation of revised containment measures.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health released on Thursday evening revealed that 1,008 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. 

The cases come from a sample size of 6,038 bringing the total number of positive cases in the country to 59,595. On top of this is the death of 21 patients Covid-19 patients bringing the total number of deaths to 1,072. 

So far, 723,210 tests have been conducted. This is 1.5 per cent of the country’s population.  

The positive cases however have dropped by 486 cases from yesterday’s tally of 1,494, which came from 8,839 samples tested.  

According to the data from the ministry, 802 patients have recovered from the disease. 679 came from the Home-Based Care Program, while 123 have been discharged from various hospitals. This brings the total recoveries now stand at 39,193.

There are 1,262 patients currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 5,189 are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 62 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 26 of whom are on ventilatory support and 31 on supplemental oxygen.

Another 87 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen out of whom 74 are in the general wards, while 13 are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). 

From the cases 972 are Kenyans and 36 are foreigners.

Distribution

Nairobi continues to lead with the highest Covid-19 infection burden after posting 417. The cases are distributed as follows: Mombasa 87, Kiambu 51, Kajiado 48, Nakuru 35, Kisumu 32,  Kakamega 32, Trans Nzoia 26, Kilifi  24, Nyandarua 23, Kericho 23, Uasin Gishu 23, Nyamira 21, Machakos 20, Migori 16, Nyeri 15, Murang’a 14, Turkana 13, Siaya 10, Mandera 9, Busia 8, Meru 7, Kisii 7, West Pokot 6, Tharaka Nithi 6, Makueni 6, Homabay 6, Elgeyo Marakwet 5,  Embu 4, Nandi 3,  Kirinyaga 2, Bomet 2, Bungoma 2, Samburu , Baringo ,Wajir , Kwale , and Taita Taveta have one case each.

On Wednesday, President Uhuru tightened the Covid-19 protocols to end the rising curve of the infections. The revised protocols to the change of curfew to hour which now begins at 10.00pm to 4.00am. Hotels, restaurants, bars and eateries were also ordered to close at 9 pm as the Head of State made it clear that enforcement of the protocols will be doubled.

The positivity rate which was at four per cent in September had shot to 16 per cent in October.