The death toll resulting from Covid 19 related ailment surpassed the five hundred mark after nineteen patients succumbed to the highly infectious viral disease.
The latest fatalities now brings to 506 the number of people who have died of the disease as the country registered 379 new infections over the last 24 hours after about
3,867 samples submitted for testing pushing the national case tally to 31,015 since the pandemic was reported.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Mercy Mwangangi while giving an update on the pandemic said at least 402,452 samples have so far been cumulatively taken for testing.
She said 372 of the new cases were Kenyans while the remaining were foreigners nationals and in terms of gender, 223 were male, 156 were female with the youngest case being a 1 year old baby, while the oldest was a 87 years old person.
She also informed that nation that 244 patients recovered from the disease bringing the total number of those who have so far pull through the deadly infection to 17, 612.
“From the discharge, 76 were from various facilities and 168 from home-based care programme.”, she said but noting that the country has also lost 19 more patients with one death being from community and 18 having had co-morbidity of diabetes and hypertension and brining now the total number of fatalities to 506.
Today’s cases have seen Nairobi recording 219 cases, Kiambu 40, Uasin-Gishu 28, Kajiado 14, Machakos 13, Kisumu 10, Mombasa 7, Kericho 6, Baringo 5, Bomet 5, Nandi 4 and Nyeri 4,
Isiolo has recorded 3, Narok 3, Busia 2, Garissa 2, Homabay 2, Kilifi 2, Kirinyaga 1, Kisii 1, Laikipia 1, Makueni 1, Nyamira 1, Taita Taveta 1, and Trans-Nzoia 1.
According to Dr. Mwangangi, now more than ever kenya just like other countries in the world had embarked on research to contain the Covid-19 pandemic after it emerged that the virus was fast mutating making the search for the cure more elusive than ever.
“As the global coronavirus pandemic evolves, scientists worldwide are conducting studies to address the crisis and Kenya is not being left behind in research to find the solutions to global challenges such as covid-19”, she said
In Kenya, the CAS said that proposed 3 research priority areas are in characterizing the pandemic locally; who are affected, where are they and when did they become infected,
Also in characterizing the outcomes; who are asymptomatic, who are developing symptoms and by severity of symptoms and who are dying and the risk factors involved.
And finally in what interventions have been successfully implemented and to what extent have they contributed to the successful containment of the pandemic, reducing the morbidity and mortality of Covid-19.
The Ministry of Health through Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR) has been on the lead on both local and international collaborative Covid-19 researches.
Dr. Mwangangi said that the ministry has been following up on all the affected and exposed persons in the country and developing a knowledge base that has enabled the government to develop a robust Covid-19 testing strategy, management protocols and pandemic containment measures.
Funding for priority research, the CAs said has been mobilized locally through the National Research Fund (NRF) which has put out several opportunities for Covid-19 research proposals funding and internationally through Kenya’s bilateral and multilateral development partners.
By Wangari Ndirangu
