COVID-19: Kenya records 1,286 cases, 32 deaths as positivity rate at 15.5%

The Ministry of Health on Saturday announced that 1,286 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 8,310 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is 15.5%, with total confirmed infections rising to 228,363 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,305,988.

From the cases 1,264 are Kenyans while 22 are foreigners; 661 are females and 625 are males, while the youngest is a two-month-old infant and the oldest is 100 years.

The ministry also said 1,942 patients recovered from the disease with 1,766 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 176 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries stand at 211,781.

However, 32 patients succumbed to the coronavirus, all of them being late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits in April.

The new cases were recorded across various counties namely; Nairobi 258, Makueni 118, Kiambu 117, Laikipia 87, Nakuru 84, Nyeri 78, Nyandarua 47, Murang’a 59, Embu 45, Busia 28, Kirinyaga 27, Uasin Gishu 23, Kilifi 23, Bungoma 22, Kericho 20, Turkana 19, Machakos 18, Mombasa 17, Taita Taveta 17, Wajir 16, Kajiado 16, Tana River 14, Isiolo 13, Migori 11, Lamu 10, Tharaka Nithi 10, Kisumu 9, Elgeyo Marakwet 8, Kakamega 8, Kisii 8, Meru 8, Nyamira 7, Baringo 7, Marsabit 6, Kitui 6, Siaya 4, West Pokot 4, Garissa 4, Homa Bay 3, Bomet 2, Kwale 2, Trans Nzoia 1, Nandi 1 and Narok 1.

“A total of 2,060 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 8,769 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program. 157 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 80 of whom are on ventilatory support and 77 on supplemental oxygen. No patient is under observation,” read the statement.

“Another 818 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 754 of them in general wards and 64 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

The Mutahi Kagwe-led ministry also announced that first doses administered on Friday were 67,749 while second doses were 4,144.

“Cumulatively, 2,374,197 vaccines were administered across the country as of yesterday, August the 20th 2021. Of these, total first doses were 1,595,335 while second doses were 778,862,” added the statement.

“The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose was at 48.8% with the majority being males at 55% while females were at 45%. Proportion of adults fully vaccinated was 2.9%.”

The uptake of the second dose by Priority Groups was as follows: Aged 58 years and above 234,675; Others 231,572; Health Workers 130,593; Teachers 117,403; while Security Officers were at 64,619.