Covid-19: Kenya records 551 new infections, five deaths

Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman [Boniface Okendo]

The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Tuesday announced 551 new Covid-19 infections from a sample size of 4,675.

This takes the total number of recorded positive cases in the country to 84,169.

Unfortunately, five patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours taking the number of fatalities to 1,474.

On a positive note, 266 patients recovered; 206 of them from Home-based Care, and 60 were discharged from various hospitals.

The total recoveries now stand at 18,146. There are 1,275 patients admitted in various health facilities countrywide while 8,070 are on home-based isolation and care.

71 patients are in ICU, 36 of whom are on ventilatory support and 34 on supplemental oxygen.

Another 88 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen out of whom 70 are in the general wards and 18 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

On the trial vaccines, Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman said Kenya is actively participating in the ongoing AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine trial, expressing hope that there will be progress soon.

“Kenya is participating in the ongoing AstraZeneca/Oxford ChAdOx vaccine trial together with the UK, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Japan, USA & India. It’s expected that this vaccine will engage 60,000 participants across the 7 countries before end of the year,” he said.

Asked about the strike notices issued by healthcare workers, Dr Aman said the Ministry of Health will meet officials from the Labour Ministry to chart a way forward.

“The issue regarding the strike notices issued by healthcare workers is receiving a great deal of attention at various levels. Tomorrow we will be meeting with the Labour Ministry.

“We would want to avert this strike, which we don't need at this time,” he remarked.