As the country marks a hundred days since the first case of Covid 19 was confirmed in Kenya new infections soared to a record 260 pushing the national tally to 4,738.
The highly contagious pandemic which has so far spread to at least 40 out of the 47 counties including refugee camps has so far claimed 123 lives after two more patients on Sunday succumbed to the disease.
Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe while giving an update of the status of the pandemic in the country however reassured Kenyans that the government was not relenting in flattening the infection curve.
He expressed optimism that in two weeks’ time the Health ministry will ensure that if not all but most counties will have put up at least 300 isolation beds for Coronavirus patients as directed by the President.
“From the failures and challenges we have experienced since the journey began, it has been a learning journey when we started with only 8 beds, developed to 100 and converted 500 more at Kenyatta University hospital as we cascade the same to counties ”, he said.
The CS added that within the 100 days, testing capacities has also grown and in the coming weeks the government will be bolstering even more.
He broke down the figures saying that In March -3,419, samples were tested out of which 78 were positive, April- 19,108 samples tested, and 328 tested positive, May-57,527 samples tested with 1,615 turning out positive while in June 21th June 2020- 59,958 samples were tested and 2,717 tested positive”, Kagwe said .
These figures, Kagwe said clearly demonstrates that the number of samples tested has been increasing and with the recent financial allocation by treasury and additional funding from development partners , the country has the capacity to combat Covid 19 by enhancing testing capacity and distribution of free masks and tracing mechanism at border level.
The government the CS noted has further hired an additional 4,509 healthcare workers to operate the 189 ventilators that the country has nationally.
“Coronavirus will be with us for a long time and that it will, in all probability, eventually stretch our medical systems just as it has done globally and in view of this the Ministry has developed guidelines and protocols supporting the home and community-based isolation, and treatment program that is being implemented”, he added
He noted that since the home based care programme began, 338 patients have already been released from the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral & Research Hospital while 212 have been discharged from Coast General Hospital, bringing the total number of patients under home care to 550.
Today, the CS noted that the country has today registered 260 positive cases, from 3,651 samples tested in the last 24 hours.
This now brings a total of 4,738 positive cases in the country. Cumulatively, 140,012 samples have been run so far.
“Out of the 260 positive cases, 254 are Kenyans and (6) are foreigners, while, 176 are males and 84 are females with the youngest case is a 7 months old infant, and the oldest is 90 years.
The contribution of the cases by counties is Nairobi, (157), Mombasa, (42), Kwale, (15), Kiambu, (14), Machakos, (9), Kajiado, (7), Migori, (3), Nakuru, (3), Busia, (3), Homabay, (2), Kilifi, (1), Kisii, (1), Kisumu, (1), Kakamega (1) Laikipia, (1).
The cases are distributed in sub counties as follows; in Nairobi, the cases are from; Dagoretti North, (23), Embakasi South, (21), Langata, (22), Makadara, (17), Embakasi East, (11), Kibra, (11), Kamukunji, (11), Embakasi West, (10), Westlands, (8), Kasarani, (5), Embakasi North, (5), Embakasi Central, (3), Ruaraka, (3), Starehe, (2), Dagoretti South, (2), and Mathare, (2).
In Mombasa, the 42 cases are in, Likoni, (10), Changamwe, (9), Kisauni, (9), Mvita, (8), Jomvu (3), and Nyali, (3). In Kwale, the 15 cases are from; Msambweni, (13) and Matuga, (2). In Kiambu, the 14 cases are from; Kiambaa, (4), Thika, (3), Kabete, (3), Kiambu Town, (2) and Kikuyu, (2).
All the (9) cases in Machakos, are from Athi River. In Kajiado, the 7 cases are from, Kajiado East, (4), and Kajiado North, (3). In Migori, the 3 cases are from Kuria West, (2) and Suna East, (1). The 3 cases in Nakuru are from, Naivasha, (2) and Nakuru East, (1). All the (3) cases in Busia are from Teso North.
The (2) cases in Homabay, are from, Homabay Town, (1), and Mbita, (1). The one (1) case in Kilifi is at Kaloleni. The case in Kisii is from Kisii Central, while the case in Kisumu is from Kisumu Central. In Kakamega, the one (1) case is from Ikolomani, and, finally, the case in Laikipia, is from Laikipia East.
The CS said that On the government has today discharged 21 more patients from the various hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,607 but has also lost an additional (2) patients from the disease bringing the cumulative number of fatalities to 123.
Kagwe said that the 100 days have been 100 days of challenge, 100 days of caring and reconnecting with family and community; a 100 days of business support and 100 days of learning and gaining knowledge thus called on all to be responsible
Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said within the 100 days , technology has also increased with most people and families using technology .
He however noted that some families are straining when it comes to internet cyber space saying that the communication authority is working to ensure that young people are protected and that parents know how to filter the sites that should not be used by children.
“Within the next 7 days Communication Authority should be giving a clear road map on training of those using the technology to ensure our cyber spaces are clean.
The CS though noted that technology is here with us and part of every day life especially for the young people who are working on line. ‘we are in the process of training 5000 young people on how to earn through Ajira programme.
He noted that the Data protection law is now in place and in the next two week he will be recruiting a data commissioner to ensure control of data . We want to protect privacy but also ensure the public safety first”,
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Ag. Director General Ministry of Health said the government will ensure that the patients released for home based care have suitable space and that there is someone to take care of the patients at home
“Home based care places a premium on a person on home based care to be responsible citizen without exposing family and general public and the government is also linking the home base care person to a volunteer health care workers
By Wangari Ndirangu
