Coronavirus cases in Kenya jump to 25 as 9 new infections confirmed

Coronavirus cases in Kenya jump to 25 as 9 new infections confirmed

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday confirmed 9 more positive cases of the coronavirus in the country, raising the total number to 25.

CS Kagwe, speaking during a press address at Afya House, said the new cases were part of 82 samples tested at three laboratories in the country – National Influenza Centre, KEMRI in Nairobi, KEMRI Welcome Trust in Kilifi and Aga Khan Hospitals – in the last 24 hours alone.

The CS revealed that, from the 9 cases, 7 of them are Kenyans while the remaining 2 are foreigners.

He added that the cases confirmed so far are spread out across 4 counties across the country namely; Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale.

“The new patients have already been taken into isolation in our facilities and are being monitored by our medical personnel. Tracing of contacts as well as those of the previous patients is ongoing,” he stated.

“Total number of close contacts that we have so far been monitoring stands at 745; out of this number, 98 of them have been discharged after completing the 14-day follow up period. We now have 647 remaining close contacts that our tracing teams are monitoring. 15 individuals are also currently admitted at Mbagathi hospital waiting test results.”

CS Kagwe also admitted that the government has been facing challenges with the select hotels and designated facilities where travellers are being taken for mandatory quarantine before being allowed entry into the country, further seeking to reassure the public that the process has since been streamlined.

He expressed gratitude to Chinese billionaire Jack Ma for his generosity after 25,000 testing kits donated by the business magnate arrived into the country on Tuesday afternoon.

The CS also castigated irresponsible Kenyans for their carefree attitude in disregarding government directives to stay at home amid the pandemic saying it is this “indiscipline that is going to cost us.”

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COVID-19 coronavirus Jack Ma CS Mutahi Kagwe

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