Kenya confirms an additional 4 cases of the coronavirus, total at 126

Kenya has confirmed an additional 4 cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the tally to 126.

The four were in a cluster of 372 people who were tested for the virus in the last 24 hours.

Three of the four cases are Kenyans while the fourth patient is a Pakistani National who recently travelled to the country.

One of the Kenyan patient from the cluster had travelled from Malawi while the other two contracted the virus locally.

Speaking on Saturday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government has so far tested 1886 people from the 2050 cases currently in designated isolation centres across the country.

184 people are however yet to undergo the screening and testing with the government saying efforts in tracing the contacts of those in quarantine are currently underway.

At the same time, CS Kagwe stressed on the need for Kenyans to observe social distancing.

He expressed his disappointment with a section of Kenyans who are under mandatory quarantine who disregarded the social distancing directive by holding parties in quarantine.

“Some have been sharing facilities and some not taking social distancing seriously. Some had partying sprees in quarantine,” He said.

Further, he noted that the government has now instructed medical officials to extend the quarantine for those who may have interacted with positive cases while under isolation.

In the meantime, over 20 patients have been isolated at Kenyatta University Teaching and Refferal Hospital.

CS Kagwe said the ministry of health has started moving patients from designated facilities to curb the rate of infections and the same time,  avoid congestion.

The Ministry of Health is also making arrangements that will see some patients receive the required medical care at their homes.

At the same time, CS Kagwe urged any person visiting a supermarket or open air market to wear protective masks immediately to prevent transmission in those areas.

He added that the Government is now able to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment and assured the health workers that they are now secure going forward.

Laboratories at KEMRI are also now working to start producing more testing kits to expand testing in the country.