The government on Tuesday discharged 587 patients who have recovered from the COVID 19 disease.
From this number 500 are from home based care program while 87 have been discharged from various hospitals and this now brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 9,327.
Giving statistics on today’s status of COVID 19 in the country, the Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Dr. Rashid Aman said the country has sadly lost 6 patients who succumbed to the disease bringing the fatality now to 388.
Dr. Rashid said that today’s 605 people have tested positive for CCVID after 4,547 samples were tested in the last 24 hours bringing now the total number of positive cases to 23,302.
Cumulatively the tests now stand at 322,923, but from the cases today 582 are Kenyans while 27 are foreigners, 401 are male and 204 are female. The youngest case is a two month old infant while the oldest is 99 years.
On the distribution of cases, Nairobi has again registered the highest number at 373, followed by Kiambu 35, Migori 25, Busia 20, Narok 20 , Kajiado, 16, Laikipia 16, Nakuru 15, Kakamega 12, Uasin Gishu 11, Machakos 10, Mombasa 9, Samburu 8, Turkana 7, Murang’a 5, Kericho 5, Taita Taveta 3, Nyeri 2, Makueni 2, Kisumu, 2, Kilifi 2, Elgeyo Marakwet 2, Siaya 1, Meru 1 , itui, 1 Isiolo 1 and Bungoma 1.
The CAS noted that environmental health during the COVID 19 pandemic is iof utmost important considering the spread of the disease is contact with contaminated surfaces making it largely a hygiene matter.
Cognizant of this, he added the ministry has built capacity of health workers through training of all the county public health officers and also County staff and developed a number of guidelines and protocol to support the containment of the spread of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID 19.
Dr. Rashid has also come out to say that extra precaution when it comes to disposal of used face masks is Key.
“Viruses and germs remain attached to disposed masks for varying period of time and those who pick discarded masks, particularly children are at risk of infection. Improper disposal such as open air burning is also both risky and pollutes the environment”, he said
The CAS said that the ministry is working with County health officials to ensure hazardous waste is being disposed off by incineration and where applicable in dump fill sites according to proper practices and procedures.
Dr. Francis Kuria , the Director of Public Health said that on home based care, they are encouraging Kenyans to use the jitenge app , a home based care reporting self-reporting app for follow up symptoms.
“Today, by the time of going to the press we had received reports electronically from 23 counties following up on 1052 cases “he said.
During the briefing, Samsung donated over 500 Galaxy A2 smart phones that will assist health care workers at Sub County and County Disease Surveillance Coordinators to enhance contact tracing for COVID 19 and also monitoring movement , testing and care for patients using Safaricom data that will be provided free by Safaricom foundation.
By Wangari Ndirangu
