Kenyas COVID-19 positivity rate rises to 20.5% as 1,523 new cases recorded; 18 more dead

Kenya’s COVID-19 positivity rate has risen to 20.5 percent after 1,523 people tested positive from 7,423 samples tested in the last 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the total number of confirmed positive cases now stand at 141,365 with the cumulative tests conducted so far being 1,530,736.

Out of the 1,523 new cases, 1,432 are Kenyans while 91 are foreigners. 842 are males and 681 are females with the youngest being a-three-month-old-infant while the oldest is 105,” said the Ministry.

The Ministry further confirmed that 18 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, with all of them being late death reports from facility record audits that occurred on diverse dates over the last one month. This now pushes the country’s cumulative fatalities to 2,276.

The 1,523 new cases are distributed across the country as follows: Nairobi 626, Kiambu 142, Uasin Gishu 108, Nakuru 92, Mombasa 65, Kericho 46, Murang’a 45, Kisumu 36, Kilifi 36, Machakos 36, Turkana 34, Nandi 30, Makueni 29, Kajiado 27, Meru 19, Kakamega 17, Taita Taveta 15, Nyandarua 14, Embu 13, Busia 12, Nyeri 11, Garissa 10, Laikipia 10, Siaya 9, Kitui 8, Kisii 7, Baringo 3, Kwale 3, Mandera 3, Nyamira 3, Trans Nzoia 3, Kirinyaga 2, Vihiga 2, Narok 1, Tharaka Nithi 1, West Pokot 1, Bungoma 1, Elgeyo Marakwet 1, Homa Bay 1 and Isiolo 1.

Meanwhile, 616 patients are reported to have recovered from the disease; 522 from Home Based and Isolation Care, while 94 are from the various health facilities. Total recoveries now stand at 97,194.

A total of 1,591 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 6,112 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care.

In the various Intensive Care Units (ICU) across the country, the Ministry says there are 236 patients, 53 of whom are on ventilatory support and 150 on supplemental oxygen while 33 patients are on observation.

“Another 253 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 238 of them in the general wards and 15 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU),” said the Ministry.

On the ongoing vaccination exercise, a total of 339,893 people have so far been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. From this number, 99,084 are Health Workers, 27, 945 Security Officers, 45,877 Teachers and 166,987 are other members of the public who include those at 58 years and above.

“Another 228 people have also been vaccinated with the Sputnik vaccine bringing the number of those vaccinated to 340,121. In terms of Gender 192,746 (57%) Males and 147,147 (43%) are females,” said the Ministry.

Nairobi County has contributed 33% of the total vaccinated followed by Nakuru and Uasin Gishu Counties at 7% and 6% respectively.

“Lamu County with uptake of 248 persons vaccinated has consistently remained lower since the exercise started,” added the Ministry.