Kericho has reported the first case of Covid 19 joining a list of 32 counties that have been affected by the highly contagious pandemic even as Government confirmed 143 new infections
Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman said Kericho becomes the latest County to record a case, bringing the national tally of counties affected so far to 33.
The CAS explained that the 143 positive cases were detected out of out of 2,959 samples tested in the last 24 hours bringing the total case load in the country to 1,888 and cumulatively from 76,962 samples tested in the country.
“All the 143 cases are Kenyans, 110 males and 33 females and their age ranges is between I month for the youngest and 88 years for the oldest”, he said.
Dr. Rashid noted that due to the increase in numbers, the fight for Covid requires solidarity and steadfastness in keeping the course if are it has to be won.
The CAS noted it was therefore disheartening to observe from time to time, the casual manner in which some of the political leaders are practicing the containment measures.
“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 do not”, he said .
The CAS appealed to the political leaders to lead by example, and work with the people in order for all to achieve the intended objective.
“Spotty and sporadic adherence to the measures by a section of the society will certainly not help us achieve the desired results and all therefore must fight together irrespective of our social standings in the society”, Dr. Rashid said
On the Covid cases today, the CAS said that the distribution of the new cases by county is from Nairobi County has 86 cases, Mombasa County, 25 cases, Uasin Gishu 11 cases, Kiambu 6 cases, Busia 3 cases, Kwale, 3 cases all from Msambweni, in Migori 3 cases all from Kuria West. Kajiado, Kisii, Garissa , Isiolo ,Kericho and Makueni all had one case each
The distribution of cases by sub counties is in Nairobi, Makadara has 45, Kibra, 21, Embakasi South, 6, Kasarani, 5, Ruaraka, 3, Westlands, 2, Embakasi West,2, Langata, one 1 and Starehe one 1.
In Mombasa the 25 cases are from Likoni 11, Mvita, nine 9, Jomvu, two 2, Nyali, two 2 and Changamwe, one 1.
In Uasin Gishu, all 11 cases are truck drivers are from Turbo. The cases in Kiambu are from Kabete, three 3 and one each from Juja, Ruiru and Kiambaa.
In Busia, the three cases are from Alupe mandatory quarantine facility two 2 and Malaba point of entry, one 1 case.
The government has also today discharged 26 patients from various hospitals, who have fully recovered from COVID-19 bringing the total tally to 464.
One more patient, who is a male of 59 years, the CAS said has succumbed to the disease bringing the total number of fatalities to 63.
Dr. Rashid has emphasized that the Covid 19 disease impact on social and economic activities has affected the whole world and that no single county can claim it has escaped the wrath of the pandemic.
In Kenya, he explained that over 300,000 jobs have been lost and each individual directly or indirectly supports another 10 kenyans thus overall 3 million people means of survival have been affected.
“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”, CAS Rashid said overcome.
Ag. Director General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said the nature of informal settlements and congestion and living conditions has become hotstpots for Covid.
He explained that 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
Our message is more of infection control measures and use of masks to be able to prevent spread and also remembering that Provision of water and sanitation facilities in the informal sector cannot be underestimated in this fight”, Dr, Amoth said.
By Wangari Ndirangu
Kericho Joins Covid 19 List of Counties
