COVID 19: Kenya reports 234 new cases, positivity rate at 6.3pc

Kenya reported 234 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, based on a sample of 3,737 people tested in the last one day across the country.

The Health Ministry noted in a press release that the new infections, with a positivity rate of 6.3 percent, bring the total number of confirmed positive cases to 246,530.

Kenya has conducted 2,498,049 tests since the pandemic was first reported.

“From the cases 231 are Kenyans while 3 are foreigners. 118 males while 116 are females,” the Ministry said on Sunday. “The youngest is a four-year-old child while the oldest is 97 years.,”

Nairobi has the most new infections, with 49, followed by Kitui, Makueni, and Turkana, with 48, 19, and 14 new cases, respectively.

In the rest of the country, the new infections are distributed as follows: Nakuru 12, Kiambu 11, Uasin Gishu 11, Kajiado 10, Murang’a 9, Garissa 8, Mombasa 8, Meru 4, Nyandarua 3, Kakamega 3, Laikipia, Machakos, Marsabit, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi and Wajir 2 cases each, Baringo, Kisii, Nandi, Kisumu, Kericho, Kwale, Embu, Homa Bay and Isiolo 1 case each.

According to Health Ministry data, a total of 1,433 patients are now admitted in various health facilities across the country, with 3,246 under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program.

“109 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 77 of whom are on ventilatory support and 25 on supplemental oxygen. 7 patients are under observation,” the Ministry said.

Another 505 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 470 of them in general wards and 35 in High Dependency Units (HDU).

At the same time, Kenya’s total number of recovered from the disease reached 237,295 on Sunday, following the report of 492 new recoveries.

“452 of the recoveries are from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 40 are from various health facilities countrywide,” the Ministry added.

In addition, nine new fatalities were reported in the last day, bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 4.989.

“All of the deaths are late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits in September 2021,” the Health Ministry said.

Vaccination

With a goal of vaccinating at least 10 million adults by December, Kenya has administered some 3,351, 109 vaccines across the country.

“Of these, total first doses were 2,492,173 while second doses were 858,936.” The Health Ministry said on Sunday. “The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose was at 34.5% with the majority being males at (55%) while females were at (45%).”

The proportion of adults who are now fully vaccinated is 3.2 percent.