Kenyas COVID-19 positivity rate at 17.3% after 1,571 new cases recorded, 32 dead

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to rise with 1,571 people testing positive from a sample size of 9,065 tested in the last 24 hours marking a positivity rate of 17.3%.

The Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the total confirmed positive cases are now 208,262 with cumulative tests so far conducted being 2,166,046.

The 1,571 cases are distributed across the country as follows:  Nairobi 605, Kiambu 187, Mombasa 101, Nakuru 82, Nyeri 77, Kilifi 51, Kirinyaga 50, Uasin Gishu 43, Kajiado 39, Busia 35, Nyandarua 34, Murang’a 33, Homa Bay 27, Makueni 25, Garissa 18, Meru 17, Embu 15, Machakos 13, Laikipia 10, Kericho 10, Baringo 9, Turkana 7, Bomet 7, Kitui 6, Bungoma 6, Siaya 6, Kisumu 5, Narok 4, Taita Taveta 4, Isiolo 3, Kakamega 3, Migori 3, Nandi 2, Tharaka Nithi 2, West Pokot 2, Elgeyo Marakwet 1, Kisiii 1, Tana River 1 and Kwale 1.

At the same time, 32 more patients have succumbed to the disease, three of them in the last 24 hours while 29 are late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits on diverse dates in June, July and August, 2021. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 4,057.

Meanwhile, 4,497 patients have recovered from the disease with 4,335 from Home-Based Isolation and Care while 162 are from various health facilities countrywide. This brings the total recoveries to 195,685 out of which 156,769 are from Home Based Care and Isolation program, while 38,916 are from various health facilities.

According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 1,618 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,187 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program.

Some 112 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 43 of whom are on ventilatory support and 61 on supplemental oxygen. 8 patients are under observation.

“Another 545 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 513 of them in general wards and 32 in High Dependency Units (HDU),” said the Ministry.

On the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, the Ministry says as of August 4, a total of 1,750,260 vaccines had so far been administered across the country. Of these, total first doses are 1,075,808 while second doses are 674,452.