Covid-19 cases in the country have risen to 649 after 28 more people tested positive to the highly contagious disease over the last 24 hours.
Health officials confirmed that 24 were Kenyan nationals while the other four were Tanzanians.
Giving the update on the coronavirus situation in the country, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman said the number of Covid cases within the country’s borders continue to rise and is a concern for the government.
The positive cases, the CAS said are distributed in the country with 10 in Mombasa, 9 in Nairobi, 4 in Migori, 2 in Kajiado, and 1 each in Machakos, Kiambu and Homabay.
“It does concern us to see the numbers within some of these border counties like Migori and Kajiado slowly rising and this is where and why the issue of testing trackers coming in becomes very important”, Dr. Rashid said.
In responding to the increase demand for testing of track drivers, the CAS noted that the ministry of health in collaboration with the county of Kajiado will build a testing facility in Namanga border point
The ministry is also working with partners and has sent a health support team of Mandera County to conduct mass testing on the identified hotspots. “ So far a total of 241 samples were taken and transported to Nairobi for analysis”, the CAS said
He called upon the management of the Kajiado and Migori counties to ensure that surveillance and screening procedures are adhered to in line with the laid down protoecals.
Dr. Rashid explained that all the positive cases today were picked by the surveillance teams and are spread in various estates. In Nairobi 3 are from Embakasi, 2 in Eastleigh and one each from Kayole, Huruma, South – B and Kawangware.
The 10 cases in Mombasa are 4 from Mvita, 4, from Nyali and 2 from Likoni .
In terms of age, they range from 11 years the youngest while the oldes is 81 years of age and they are 17 males and 11 females.
The government has registered 5 recoveries today bringing the total number of recoveries to 207. The number of deaths have reached 30 after one more patient passed on today, he said .
Meanwhile the CAS today announced additional measures to contain the diseases in areas of Eastleigh in Nairobi and old town in Mombasa which are on partial lockdown.
“The government has prohibited hawking within Eastleigh and Old town, prohibited gatherings of whatever nature and continue closure of malls, markets restaurants and Eateries” , he said
Dr. Rashid also put on notice supermarkets and malls that are not adhering to measures put in place especially social distancing saying that they risk closure for failure to abide by the guidelines.
“We have observed in most urban centres that life has gone back to normal. Supermarkets and malls are fully packed. This behavior is dangerous and can very easily reverse the gains that we have achieved”, he said
On a different matter, Dr Rashid has wished all lupus warriors well as they combat the disease during the commemoration of the lupus awareness day that will be celebrated tomorrow.
The ministry of health is working on a program to promote community awareness of the disease even as researchers continue to look for a cure”, he said
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease whereby the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attack normal healthy tissues.
Globally the day is celebrated every 10th of May to honour all those battling the disease
The Ministry has also today partnered with Nation Media group and Jays pyrotechnics to celebrate frontline workers and give encouragement to Kenyans through laser mapping to beam messages of hope, gratitude and encouragement on the façade of Afya house that will run for period of four nights beginning tonight.
By Wangari Ndirangu
28 More Covid 19 Infections Reported
