Covid-19: Kenyas positivity rate at 12.4% as 572 new people test positive, 18 dead

Kenya has recorded 572 new COVID-19 cases from a sample size of 4,624 samples tested in the last 24 hours, marking a positivity rate of 12.4%.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said the total confirmed positive cases now stand at 163,238 from 1,715,038 cumulative tests conducted so far.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health announced that 18 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, 1 having occurred in the last 24 hours, 4 on diverse dates within the last one month and 13 being late death reports from facility record audits. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 2,883.

The 572 new cases are distributed across the country as follows: Nairobi recorded 148 cases, Kisumu 46, Kericho 36, Bungoma 26, Mombasa 25, Taita Taveta 23, Migori 23, Nyamira 22, Nakuru 21, Uasin Gishu 20, Turkana 15, Kiambu 15, Siaya 11, Meru 11, Baring() 10, Bomet 10, Kajiado 10, Nandi 9, Narok 8, Mandera 8, Nyeri, Kitui, Trans Nzoia, Busia and Embu 7 cases each, Makueni 6, Machakos 5, Kisii 4, Homa Bay 4, Vihiga 3, Marsabit 3, Kakamega 3, Elgeyo Marakwet 2, Isiolo, Laikipia and Murang’a 2 cases each, Tana River, Kwale, Garissa and Kirinyaga 1 case each.

The Ministry of Health also announced that 476 patients have recovered from the disease, 257 from various health facilities across the country, while 219 are from the Home Based and Isolation Care. Total recoveries now stand at 111,129.

“Of the recoveries, 80,535 are from Home Based Care and Isolation while 30,594 are from various health facilities,” said the Ministry.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 1,103 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 6,295 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care.

“131 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 26 of whom are on ventilatory support and 80 on supplemental oxygen. 25 patients are under observation,” said the Ministry.

Meanwhile, 107 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 99 of them in general wards and 8 in High Dependency Units (HDU).

On the ongoing vaccination exercise, as of Saturday a total of 915,968 persons had been vaccinated against COVID-19 disease in the country.

“Of these, 534,355 are aged 58 years and above alongside others, Health workers, 160,862, Teachers 143,525, while 77,226 Security Officers have been vaccinated,” said the Ministry.