Kenya's Covid-19 cases up by 1,571

Kenya has today recorded 1,571 positive Covid-19 cases from a sample size of 9,065 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is now at 17.3 per cent, the Health ministry has said.

From the cases, 1,538 are Kenyans while 33 are foreigners. The new cases comprised 846 men and 725 were women. 

The youngest is a four-month-old infant while the oldest was 103 years.

Kenya’s total confirmed cases are now at 208,262 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,166,046.

The county distribution index placed Nairobi with 605 new Covid-19 cases, followed by Kiambu (187), Mombasa (101), Nakuru (82) and Nyeri (77).

The Health ministry said 4,497 patients recovered from the disease, with 4,335 from the home-based isolation and care while 162 are from various health facilities.

“Total recoveries now stand at 195,685, out of which 156,769 are from the home-based care and isolation programme, while 38,916 are from various health facilities.”

The Health ministry stated that 32 patients have succumbed to the disease, pushing the cumulative fatalities to 4,057.

Some 1,618 patients are currently admitted to various health facilities countrywide, while 4,187 are under the home-based isolation and care programme.

As of yesterday, a total of 1,750,260 vaccines have so far been administered across the country.

“The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose is at 62.7 per cent with the majority being men at 55 per cent while women are at 45 per cent,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has said funerals, political and public gatherings continue to be Covid-19 super spreaders.

The CS urged for more resilience against the disease reiterating that the fight against the pandemic is now more of a personal responsibility and not policing.

 “You attend a funeral today while in good health, and a few days later, we attend yours. We are witnessing a deadly cycle as a result. We cannot show solidarity by following the deceased,” he said.

He again sent warning shots to political leaders calling and holding public gatherings, which he says are where most people are contracting the virus.

“The responsibility of political gatherings lies with the politicians and those who attended,” the CS said.  

 Kagwe urged teachers and workers in schools across the country to get their Covid-19 jabs at the available centres, to lessen the infection rate in schools, even as the delta variant ravages.

“There is no shortage of vaccination for teachers and other school workers.”

“Right now, the dominant variant is delta. It is transmitting faster that other variants we’ve had and its severity is also more,” he said.