Covid 19 infections in the country reached 2767 after 167 people tested positive to the highly contagious disease
The number which is the highest ever reported in a single was sampled out of 2,833 cases submitted for testing in a span of 24 hours.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe while giving an update on the status of the pandemic expressed fears that the latest figures clearly indicated that the war on Covid 19 was far from over.
He said at least 97, 340 have so far been tested adding that five out of the 167 cases that turned positive were foreigners with Nairobi county leading the pack with the highest number of cases at 54.
Mombasa had, 47, Busia, 28, Kiambu, 14, Uasin Gishu 11, Kisumu,4 Machakos, 3, Makueni, Migori, Homabay, Kwale, Siaya and Turkana 1 case each.
The distribution of cases in sub-counties in Nairobi the cases are from Westlands 21, Embakasi South, and Kibra 6 cases each, Embakasi West, 5, Kamukunji and Langata, 4 cases each, Kasarani, 3, Makadara and Dagoretti North, 2 cases each and Embakasi East, one case.
In Mombasa, the 47 cases are from Mvita, (14), Jomvu, (11), Kisauni, (7), Changamwe and Nyali (6) cases each, and Likoni (3).
CS Kagwe said that in Busia all the 28 cases are of truck drivers, 22 at Malaba POE and 6 at Busia border point. In Kiambu, the 14 cases are from Kikuyu, 9, Thika, 2, Kiambu Town, Juja, and Gatundu, 1 case each.
In Uasin Gishu, the 11 cases are from Soy, (5), Turbo, (3), Ainabkoi, Kapseret, and Kesses, (1) case each, while in Kisumu, the (4) cases are from Kisumu Central (3), and Kisumu West (1) case.
In Machakos, all the (3) cases are from Athi River. Kuria East in Migori, Ndiwa in Homa Bay, Msambweni in Kwale, Alego Usonga in Siaya and Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana, all have (1) case each.
In terms of Gender, the Kagwe said that 125 were males while 42 were females with the youngest being 11 months, while the oldest is 75.
The government, the CS further said has discharged 46 patients from various health facilities, bringing our total number of recoveries to 752. However one more patient succumbed to the disease, bringing the total fatality number to 84.
The CS said it was close to 90 days since the first case was reported and thanked Nyumba Kumi initiative for taking serious measures in ensuring that they report cases of individuals who have travelled from epi centre areas such as Nairobi
The Government has urged all the 47 County Emergency Response Committees to prioritize attainment of the 300 bed capacity for COVID-19 cases as directed by the Head of State.
Yesterday President Uhuru said that every County Government should work towards delivering isolation facilities with at least 300 bed-capacity and also to within 14 days, to develop time bound protocols for progressive re-opening of the economy
“I want to urged Counties to take advantage of the two-week period given by president and accelerate the achievement of their planned activities in order to de-escalate the containment measures”, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said.
He explained that although some counties have already the capacity of 300, the others also need to bring together their capacity in hospitals and centres and urged them to also to use the locally produced materials such as bed as this will help in also creating jobs for locals
Giving an update of the Corona Virus situation in the country, the CS noted that today the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) on COVID 19 met deliberate on the gradual progressive opening of learning institutions in the country; reopening of places of worship, r resumption of local air travel and international flights and home and community based care for COVID-19 patients.
“All these guidelines once developed will stipulate on how the various sectors of the economy and society can progressively begin to open up”, he added.
The CS went on to warn the areas that were on restriction which has now been not to become complacent and abandon the containment measures.
Restrictions of movement in and out of Eastleigh in Nairobi and Old town in Mombasa and also restrictions in and out of Kwale and Kilifi does not mean that there are no infections in those areas he added.
“Only the transmission of the virus has slowed down. I want to appeal to residents of the four areas not to become complacent, and abandon all containment measures. Any behavior to the contrary, is likely to roll back all the gains so far made.”, he said
CS Kagwe has further warned bar owners saying that the ban on their operations remained in force cautioned them that anyone who defies the directive will have their licenses permanently withdrawn
Dr. Mohamed Kuti, Chairperson of the health Committee, Council of Governors (CoG) said the issue of a minimum of 300 isolation bed capacity hospital or Centre should be taken seriously and urged them to step up since the number of Covid Cases continue to rise and are at county levels.”
“So far 36 counties have positive cases just 90 days into the disease and what this means is slowly the disease is permeating into counties even at a time when decision has been arrived at for management of covid cases at home “, he said
He explained that counties defense lies in the ability to strengthen the nyumba kumi and also community health volunteers who are in the frontline and asked the National government to work with counties in testing cases and also getting results quickly in order to manage the disease
AG. Director General Ministry of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth said WHO have come up with guidelines on how tto discharge the positive cases from health care to home care based .
He explained that although Kenya will customize the guidelines to suit its needs, moving to home quarantine and home isolation care all measures will still have to be followed and not everyone will qualify for home based care.
“Before we roll out the home care based, we will take community volunteer on sensitization process online so that once implemented it will see those quarantined don’t pose a risk to the ones surrounding them and in the next 3 to 4 days we will have trained 57,000 community health care workers”, Dr. Amoth said
Today’s briefing came as the country was celebrating the National Cancer Survivors’ Day, an annual event held globally to honor cancer survivors and to show that indeed, life after a cancer diagnosis is possible, can be fruitful, rewarding and inspiring.
By Wangari Ndirangu
