Coronavirus cases in Kenya rise to 384 as 10 more test positive

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi on Wednesday announced that Kenya had confirmed 10 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 384.

Dr. Mwangangi, addressing the press during the daily Covid-19 updates at Afya House, said 9 of the new cases were recorded in Mombasa (all picked from the community by disease surveillance teams) while the remaining one in Nairobi.

The CAS also stated that the cases were recorded from 508 samples tested in the last 24 hours from 14 counties; including 284 in Nairobi and 89 in Mombasa.

Dr. Mwangangi added that 5 more patients have since been discharged, hence the total number of recoveries now stands at 129.

She however expressed rising concern about Nairobi and Mombasa counties being the primary sources of infections in the country, adding that the Health ministry may be forced to increase the containment measures therein.

“We continue to see a trend where we have new positive cases recorded primarily in Nairobi and Mombasa counties. While this may be indicative of the disease being domiciled in these 2 counties, it is also a pointer to the immense work that is required,” said the CAS.

“As we spotlight Nairobi and Mombasa to ensure that we enhance our interventions there, this is not a license for other counties to celebrate and to drop their guard. Rather it is a call to action for the rest of the country to enhance the containment measures and to ensure that the virus is kept at bay.”

Dr. Mwangangi also urged communities to welcome back their members who recover from the disease with open arms following numerous complaints of stigmatization.

“While we celebrate recoveries, we’re disturbed that re-integration has not been easy for these people. We have reports of stigmatization by members of the community for our recovered cases. This is unfortunate considering our constant appeal and massive education to ensure that people are accepted back in the community,” she stated.

“Stigmatization will lead to few Kenyans accepting to be tested and will frustrate the efforts that we’re putting on the ground to ensure that we flatten this curve. We appeal for compassion, understanding and even celebration of this people who have been able to go through such a scourge and come out.”