Kenya has reported 143 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours after testing 2,959 samples, bringing the total caseload to 1,888 from 76, 962 samples tested so far.
Announcing the results today, the Chief Administrative Secretary for Health (CAS), Dr. Rashid Aman said that all the 143 cases are Kenyans, 110 males and 33 females. The youngest being one month old and the oldest 88 years old.
Nairobi county has the highest number of cases at 86, Mombasa County 25 cases, Uasin Gishu 11 cases, Kiambu six cases, Busia three cases, Kwale three cases all from Msambweni, Migori three cases all from Kuria West while Kajiado, Kisii, Garissa , Isiolo ,Kericho and Makueni all have one case each.
Kericho County becomes the latest County to record a case, bringing the tally of counties affected so far to 33.
In Nairobi, the cases are from Makadara at 45, Kibra 21, Embakasi South six, Kasarani five, Ruaraka three, Westlands two, Embakasi West two, Langata one and Starehe one case. Mombasa cases are from Likoni 11, Mvita nine, Jomvu two, Nyali two and Changamwe one.
In Uasin Gishu, all the 11 cases are truck drivers are from Turbo. In Kiambu Kabete has three cases and Juja, Ruiru and Kiambaa. have one case each while Busia has three cases from Alupe mandatory quarantine facility two cases and Malaba point of entry, one case.
The CAS also announced that the government has today discharged 26 patients from various hospitals, who have fully recovered from COVID-19 bringing the total tally to 464. However one more patient, a male aged 59 succumbed to the disease bringing the total number of fatalities to 63.
Dr. Rashid noted that due to the increase in numbers, the fight for Covid requires solidarity and steadfastness in keeping the containment measures.
“It is disheartening to observe from time to time, the casual manner in which some of the political leaders are practicing the containment measures,” he said and added that as leaders, it is of critical importance that we walk the talk. We must lead by example. It will not help much if we continue to appeal to our people to wear masks and to observe social and physical distancing when in public spaces, yet some of us leaders are not doing it,” he said.
Dr. Rashid also noted that the Covid 19 disease has had impact on social and economic activities which has affected the whole world. In Kenya, over 300,000 jobs have been lost which translates to about 3 million families whose means of survival, direct or indirect, has been interrupted.
“We are confident we shall overcome and bounce back even much stronger. Our resilience and character as a people have seen us overcome other calamities in the past,” the CAS said.
The Ag. Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth added that the nature of informal settlements and congestion and living conditions have made them hotspots for Covid.
The Cases from Kibera stand at 151, Eastleigh 121, and Mombasa old town 91 and that is why we are focusing more on the informal settlement where sometimes its practically difficult to ensure physical and social distancing, he said.
Our message is more of infection control measures and use of masks to be able to prevent the spread and also remembering that provision of water and sanitation facilities in the informal sector cannot be underestimated in this fight,” Dr, Amoth said.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr.Rashid Aman addressing a press conference on update of coronavirus 19 at Afya House in Nairobi today.
