Fourteen more patients succumbed to Covid 19 related infections pushing the number of fatalities resulting from the pandemic to 299.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said although the national death tally was relatively low compared to the global average, the latest trends of infections was worrying and could sooner than later reflect on the mortality figures.
“Today we lost 14 patients to coronavirus but despite our deaths remaining relatively low as compared to many nations, we expect them to steadily climb as well unless we religiously observed our containment measures to flatten the curve” he warned.
Kagwe who was giving an update on the status of the pandemic expressed fears that “ever since the cessation of movement was lifted, infection figures nearly doubled , It is a fact that we must be prepared for and this brings us back to the responsibility issue “.
The CS gave an example of currently the 4 million positive cases in the US that took 98 days to reach the first million, 44 days to reach the second million, 26 days to reach the third million and 15 days to reach the fourth Million.
He urged Kenyans to avoid unnecessary travels to upcountry or encourage visitors at their homes to be on the safe side to minimize exposure to those that might have been infected adding that the latest figures were widespread and a clear indication that the disease was with us at community level.
By taking such steps, he added we will be able to ease the burden on the government and also save lives.
On the latest statistics, Kagwe confirmed that 606 people were found infected after 4,888 samples in the last 24 hours bringing the case load now to 18, 581 and cumulatively the government has so far tested 284,500 samples .
He said 583 were kenyans while 23 were foreigners nationals, 409 were males and 197 females while the youngest was a four month old infant while the the oldest patient is 85 years.
“ Nairobi again is leading with 448 cases followed by Kimabu 54, Kajiado25, Machakos 16, uasin Gish 11, Nakuru 11, Kericho 9, Busa and Mombasa 7 , Garissa 6, bomet , 3 , Nyeri , narok, Nandi 2 each and embu , Lamu and Muranga have 1 case each”, he said.
At the Sub County level, the CS specifically mentioned Embakasi in Nairobi which has now become a serious hotspot warning those who live there to recognize saying government is looking at the measures to be taken on the specific area.
Embakasi East today recorded the highest cases at 84, Embakasi West 33 , Embakasi south 28 and Embakasi north had 15.
Others sub counties in Nairobi are Westland’s, 46, Langata 39, Dagoretti North 36, Makadara 27, Kasarani 25, Starehe 19 , Kibra 15, ruaraka 15, kamukunji 12, roysambu 11 and mathare 10.
On a positive note, the CS said that 75 people have been discharged today from various hospitals bringing the total number of recoveries to 7,908.
Speaking about yesterday’s directives by the president and the measures to be taken, the CS emphaissed that prohibiting of imbibing in bars and drinking which has now been banned should not be a reason for people now to take their drinks at home and invite friend over.
“If you buy drinks , take them home and then invite 15 of your friends for a BBQ and effectively transform your home into a Shabeen or Karumaindo, you will be contravening the regulations and therefore liable to punishment “, he said ,]
The CS further insisited that there will be no sacred people going forward on flaunti rules and that all those violating the rules they should be promoting especially the leaders who have been getting away with it.
“We have instructed the public health officers at the Cou8nty level to execute this directive and work with the law enforcement agencies to close down all violating premises and there will be no sparing of restaurants and matatus owners who are found to have broken the rules”, he said and terming it not a threat but a plan of action that seeks to protect businesses and protect all .
Ag. Director general of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said that the deaths that were reported today , 9 of them had preexisting conditions, ranging from diabetes and hypertension combined or either diabetes or hypertension, 2 of them had cancers, 1 hd cancer of the bone and another of esophagus and another one had end stage renal disease of kidney failure.
“Out of the 14, four did not have any co –existing medical condition and it behooves us especially those who have co existing medical condition to ensure that we consult with our clinicians and health care providers to ensure optimum management of our conditions such that if you get COVID then it does not put you at a risk of getting a serious form of the disease”, he added
Dr. Amoth said If one has a well-controlled diabetes myelitis condition or well controlled high blood pressure, the outcome of COVID 19 infection in them may not be different from a person who does not have a co-existing medical condition.
By Wangari Ndirangu
