Kenyas COVID-19 positivity rate at 6.3% after 284 people test positive; 17 dead

The Ministry of Health on Friday announced that 284 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 4,540 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is now 6.3 per cent, with the total confirmed infections rising to 171,942 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,826,756.

From the cases, 272 are Kenyans while 12 are foreigners; 157 are males and 127 females, while the youngest is a one-month-old infant and the oldest is 91 years old.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, in a statement to newsrooms, said 124 patients recovered from the disease; 97 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide, while 27 are from the Home Based and Isolation Care Program.  Total coronavirus recoveries now stand at 117,469.

CS Kagwe however noted that 17 people succumbed to the disease, all of them being late deaths reported after conducting Facility Record Audits on diverse dates in the month of April and May. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 3,240.

The new cases were recorded across various counties namely: Siaya 66, Nairobi 66, Kisumu 30, Mombasa 21, Busia 13, Kericho 8, Nyeri 8, Kiambu 7, Nakuru 7, Turkana 7, Uasin Gishu 7, Garissa 6, Vihiga 6, Kisii 5, Murang’a 4, Kitui 3, Embu 2, Migori 2, Kakamega 2, Narok 2, Kirinyaga 2, Kwale 2, Lamu 1, Marsabit 1, Meru 1, Nandi 1, Trans Nzoia 1, West Pokot 1, Homa Bay 1 and Kajiado 1.

In Siaya, the 66 cases are from Alego-Usonga (22), Rarieda (18), Gem (15), Bondo (5), Ugenya and Ugunja (3) cases each.

In Nairobi, the 66 cases are from Starehe (7), Langata and Westlands (6) cases each, Kasarani, Kibra, Embakasi West and Ruaraka (5) cases each, Kamukunji, Mathare and Roysambu (4) cases each, Dagoretti South, Embakasi East, and Makadara (3) cases each, Dagoretti North, Embakasi Central and North (2) cases each.

In Kisumu, the 30 cases are from Kisumu Central (10), Kisumu East and Kisumu West (9) cases each, Nyakach and Nyando (1).

“A total of 1,207 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,946 patients are under the Home Based Isolation and Care Program,” said CS Kagwe.

“96 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 23 of whom are on ventilatory support and 60 on supplemental oxygen. 13 patients are under observation.

Another 92 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 85 of them in general wards and 7 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

The CS further stated that a total of 974,000 persons have so far been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease countrywide.

Of these, he stated, 295,202 are aged 58 years and above; others 277,207; health workers 166,043; teachers 152,962; and security officers 82,586.

CS Kagwe added that 2,541 have received their second dose of the vaccine. Of these 2,150 are health workers; others 216; security officers 95; teachers 45; and those aged 58 years and above 35.