COVID-19: Kenya records 646 infections, 255 recoveries, 30 deaths

The Ministry of Health on Sunday announced that 646 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 6,039 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is 10.7%, with total confirmed positive cases rising to 229,009 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,312,027.

From the cases, 620 are Kenyans while 26 are foreigners; 343 are females and 303 are males, while the youngest is a four-month-old infant and the oldest is 105 years.

The ministry added that 255 patients recovered from the disease; with 200 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 55 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries stand at 212,036.

The Mutahi Kagwe-led ministry further stated that 30 patients succumbed to the disease, all of them being late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits in June, July and August.

The new cases were distributed across various counties namely; Nairobi 207, Garissa 74, Kitui 68, Kiambu 42, Nakuru 25, Machakos 24, Kajiado 23, Mombasa 21, Murang’a 18, Marsabit 15, Nyeri 14, Kwale 12, Meru 11, Nandi 11, Makueni 11, Embu 10, Uasin Gishu 7, Narok 7, Kakamega 6, Tana River 5, Turkana 5, Tharaka Nithi 4, Laikipia 3, Lamu 3, Mandera 3, Taita Taveta 3, Baringo 2, Wajir 2, Homa Bay 1, Kilifi 1, Kirinyaga 1, Kisumu 1, Siaya 1, Trans Nzoia 1, West Pokot 1, Bungoma 1, Busia 1 and Nyandarua 1.

“A total of 2,063 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 9,024 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program. 149 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 77 of whom are on ventilatory support and 72 on supplemental oxygen,” read the statement.

“No patient is under observation. Another 819 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 756 of them in general wards and 63 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

First doses administered on Saturday were 13,050 while second doses were 794. Cumulatively, 2,396,064 vaccines have so far been administered across the country as of August 21, 2021.  Of these, total first doses are 1,615,687 while second doses are 780,377.

The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose is at 48.3% with the majority being males at 55% while females are at 45%. Proportion of adults fully vaccinated is 2.9%.

The uptake of the second dose by Priority Groups is as follows: Aged 58 years and above 234,919; Others 232,088; Health Workers 130,746; Teachers 117,793; while Security Officers are at 64,831.