COVID-19: Kenya records 459 new cases, 8 deaths; positivity rate now at 7.4%

The Ministry of Health on Friday announced that 459 people have tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 6,193 tested in the last 24 hours, marking a positivity rate of 7.4 percent.

Of the cases, 428 are Kenyans while 31 are foreigners; 243 are females and 216 are males. Among the new cases, the youngest is a two-month-old infant while the oldest is 110 years.

Total confirmed positive cases are now 319,838 while cumulative tests so far conducted are at 3,176, 985.

The cases were distributed across various counties as follows: Nyamira 192, Nairobi 75, Kisii 20, Uasin Gishu 20, Nakuru 18, Homa Bay 13, Marsabit 13, Siaya 10, Kilifi 8, Kakamega 7, Mombasa 7, Bungoma 6, Embu 6, Kericho 6 and Kitui 6.

More cases were reported in; Kiambu 5, Kwale 4, Makueni 4, Nandi 4, Kisumu 3, Laikipia 3, Nyandarua 3, Nyeri 3, Trans Nzoia 3, Turkana 3, West Pokot 3, Elgeyo Marakwet 2, Kajiado 2, Murang’a 2, Vihiga 2, Bomet 1, Busia 1, Garissa 1, Machakos 1, Mandera 1 and Tana River 1.

The Ministry said 461 patients have recovered from the disease; 414 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 47 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries rose to 288,424.

At the same time, eight patients are reported to have succumbed to the coronavirus disease, all of them being late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits in the month of January 2022. This pushes the cumulative fatalities to 5,528.

“A total of 827 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 7,396 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program,” said Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe in a statement to newsrooms.

Some 46 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 44 of them on ventilatory support while two of them are on supplemental oxygen.

"Another 198 patients are on supplemental oxygen and 196 of them are in the general wards. 2 patients are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU),” said the Ministry.

The CS said a total of 11,437,774 vaccines had been administered across the country as of January 20, 2022. Of these, 6,290,257 are partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated are 5,003,730.

“The proportion of adults fully vaccinated was 18.4%. The government is working towards vaccinating a targeted population of 27,246,033,” he said.