Kenyas COVID-19 positivity rate at 9.4% after 344 new cases recorded

The Ministry of Health on Monday announced that 344 people tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 3,654 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is now at 9.4%, with the total confirmed positive cases rising to 175,681 while cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,870,479.

From the cases, 302 are Kenyans while 42 are foreigners; 199 are males and 145 females, while the youngest is a two-month-old infant and the oldest is aged 97.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, in a statement to newsrooms, said 151 patients have recovered from the disease; 127 from the Home Based and Isolation Care program while 24 were discharged from various health facilities across the country. Total recoveries now stand at 120,359.

CS Kagwe however noted that 11 people have succumbed to the disease, all of them being late deaths reported after conducting Facility Record Audits on diverse dates within the months of May and June. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 3,421.

The new cases were distributed across various counties namely: Nairobi 130, Kisumu 47, Uasin Gishu 37, Siaya 19, Bungoma 10, Busia 9, Mombasa 9, Nandi 8, Kakamega 8, Trans Nzoia 8, Kilifi 8, Kisii 6, Nakuru 6, Laikipia Machakos 5, Homa Bay 5, Kiambu 4, Kajiado 3, Meru 3, Kwale Elgeyo Marakwet 2, Nyandarua 2, Nyeri 2, Taita Taveta 2, Baringo 1, Nyamira 1 and Bomet 1.

In Nairobi, the 130 cases are from Kibra (16), Starehe and Westlands (13) cases each, Embakasi East and Kasarani (9) cases each, Embakasi West (8), Lang’ata, Makadara, Mathare and Roysambu (7) cases each, Embakasi South and Ruaraka (6) cases each, Dagoretti North, Embakasi Central and Kamukunji (5) cases each, Embakasi North (4), Dagoretti South (3) cases.

In Kisumu, the 47 cases are from Kisumu Central (38), Kisumu East and Nyakach (3) cases each, Muhoroni, Nyando and Seme (1) case each.

In Uasin Gishu, the 37 cases are from Kesses (12), Kapseret and Moiben (7) cases each, Ainabkoi (5), Soy and Turbo (3) cases each.

“A total of 961 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,770 patients are under Home Based Isolation and Care program,” said CS Kagwe.

“156 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 28 of whom are on ventilatory support and 108 on supplemental oxygen. 20 patients are under observation. Another 110 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 105 of them in general wards and 5 in High Dependency Units (HDU).”

The CS also noted that 987,277 persons have so far received their first dose against the COVID-19 disease in the country.

Of these, 298,334 are aged 58 years and above; health workers 168,056; teachers 154,262; security officers 83,766 while 282,859 persons drawn from other categories have also received their first dose.

A total of 128,744 have received their second dose. Of these, 37,918 are health workers; others 33,926; those aged above 58 years 34,269; teachers 13,673 while 8,958 security officers have also received their second dose.