Zero COVID-19 deaths as Kenya records 485 new cases; positivity rate at 9.1%

The Ministry of Health on Wednesday announced that 485 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 5,355 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is now 9.1%, with total confirmed infections rising to 176,622 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,881,460.

From the cases, 467 are Kenyans while 18 are foreigners; 277 are males and 208 females, while the youngest is a one-month-old infant and the oldest is 93 years old.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, in a statement to newsrooms, said 312 patients have recovered from the disease; 219 from the Home Based and Isolation Care program while 93 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries now stand at 121,206.

CS Kagwe also stated that there are no reported deaths, leaving the cumulative fatalities at 3,428.

The new cases were distributed across various counties namely; Nairobi 119, Hama Bay 68, Siaya 61, Kisumu 48, Mombasa 28, Busia 24, Kakamega 19, Kericho 16, Nakuru 14, Bomet 13, Uasin Gishu 11, Bungoma 10, Vihiga 8, Kisii 7, Machakos 7, Kilifi 5, Nyeri 4, Narok 4, Migori 3, Kajiado 2, Kiambu 2, Kirinyaga 2, Kitui 2, Nyandarua 2, West Pokot 2, Kwale 1, Laikipia 1, Murang’a 1 and Nyamira 1.

“A total of 1,076 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,810 patients are under the Home Based Isolation and Care program.” said the CS.

“102 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 29 of whom are on ventilatory support and 60 on supplemental oxygen. 13 patients are under observation. Another 115 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 110 of them in general wards and 5 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

CS Kagwe stated that a total of 1,155,745 vaccines have so far been administered across the country. Of these, total first doses are 991,184 while second doses are 164,561.

The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose is at 16.6% with the majority being females at 56.4% while males are at 43.6% Proportion of adults fully vaccinated is less than 1%.

The uptake of the second dose by priority groups is as follows: health workers (46,369); others (45,353); ages 58 years and above (42,883); teachers (18,512); while security officers are at 11,444.