16 deaths, 344 new cases recorded as Kenya’s COVID-19 positivity rate at 7.1%

The Ministry of Health on Friday announced that 344 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 4,864 tested in the last 24 hours, the positivity now at 7.1% as total confirmed infections rose to 170,041.

From the cases, 334 are Kenyans while 10 are foreigners; 198 are males and 146 females, while the youngest is a two-month-old infant and the oldest is 93 years. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe also revealed that 30 patients recovered from the disease; 27 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide while 3 are from the Home Based and Isolation Care. Total recoveries now stand at 116,018.

CS Kagwe however also noted that 16 people succumbed to COVID-19; all of them being late deaths, reported after conducting facility record audits. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 3,124.

The new cases were distributed across various counties namely: Nairobi 77, Siaya 68, Kisumu 53, Mombasa 14, Bungoma 13, Busia and Uasin Gishu 12 cases each, Nakuru and Homa Bay 11 cases each, Kisii 9, Garissa 8, Kiambu and Nyeri 7 cases each, Embu 6, Murang’a 5, Makueni 4, Kericho 3, Baringo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kitui, Trans Nzoia and Turkana 2 cases each, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Mandera, Meru, Migori, Machakos, Nandi, Narok and Taita Taveta 1 case each.

The 77 cases in Nairobi are from Embakasi West, Kibra and Westlands (7) cases each, Kasarani (6), Dagoretti North, Embakasi South and Kamukunji (5) cases each, Dagoretti South, Embakasi Central, Embakasi East, Langata, Roysambu and Ruaraka (4) cases each, Embakasi North, Makadara and Starehe (3) cases each, Mathare (2).

In Siaya, the 68 cases are from Alego Usonga (42), Rarieda (16), Bondo (7), Ugunja (2), Gem (1). In Kisumu, the 53 cases are from Kisumu Central (21), Nyakach (15), Kisumu East (9), Kisumu West (6), Nyando (2).

“A total of 1,188 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,712 patients are under the Home Based Isolation and Care Program,” said CS Kagwe in a statement to newsrooms.

“107 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 20 of whom are on ventilatory support and 63 on supplemental oxygen. 24 patients are under observation. Another 86 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 80 of them in general wards and 6 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

The CS further added that a total of 966,433 persons have so far been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease countrywide.

Of these 292,767 are aged 58 years and above; others 274,791; health workers, 165,151; teachers 151,995; and security officers 81,729.