Kenya's daily virus cases shoot to 604 as 10 deaths recorded

 

Kenya's Covid-19 numbers surged on Wednesday with 604 new cases, bringing the country's total load to 42,541.

This was from a sample of 5,832 tested in the last 24 hours.

This is equivalent to a 10.3% positivity rate against the required five per cent needed to be sustained over a period of at least two weeks as a measure of the virus being contained.

The ministry had warned of a possible second wave following a rising number of cases in the past couple of days.

The Ministry of Health in a statement confirmed 583 of the new cases were Kenyans while 21 were foreigners.

Cumulative tests so far stand at  601,623. From the  cases, 400 are males and 204 females.

Age-wise, the youngest is a five-month-old infant while the oldest is 94 years.

On a positive note, 88 patients have been discharged after successful recoveries raising the country's recovery total to 31,428.

Out of this, 56 were discharged from the home-based care programme while 32 were from various health facilities.

Another 10 patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the country's fatalities to 797.

Distribution of the cases  by counties is as follows; Nairobi 125., Nakuru 113, Mombasa 87, Busia 35, Uasin Gishu 33, Trans Nzoia 25, Kiambu 25, Kisii 24, Kisumu 24, Kijiado 16 and Nandi 13.

Kakamega has 12 new cases, Meru 11, Machakos 7, Siaya 7, Garissa 7, Murang'a 5, West Pokot 5, Nyeri 5, Turkana 4, Laikipia 3, Wajir 3, Embu 2, Kirinyaga 2, Narok 2, Marsabi 2, Taita Taveta 2 while Kitui, Nyamira, Tharaka Nithi, Kilifi and Nyandarua had 1 case each.

Meanwhile, the ministry of health has announced plans to conduct random sampling in schools to establish the rate of infection in the institutions.

While making the announcement via Twitter, Acting Director General Patrick Amoth said returning to stricter restrictions is definitely an option as was stated by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"We have put a surveillance system in place to monitor for any increased cases especially in schools. We also plan to do random sampling in schools to be able to establish the rate of infection in schools if at all," he said.

"Should we witness a surge, then that will be our final option for the good of the country."