Covid-19: Kenya’s cases cross over 5,000 mark

By Samuel Ouma

A member of Kenya Red Cross demonstrates hand-washing to members of the deaf community in Nairobi amid the COVID-19 pandemic [Georgina Smith/Al Jazeera]

The number of people who have contracted the coronavirus in Kenya has hit 5,206, said the Ministry of Health.

Speaking during the daily press briefing on the disease, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi announced 254 new cases detected from 4,859 samples in the last 24 hours.

All the new patients are Kenyans aged between 4 and 92 years with 186 being males and 68 females.

The latest cases were reported in various counties as follows: Nairobi (127), Mombasa (36), Migori (29), Kajiado (22), Kiambu (12), Busia (9), Uasin Gishu (5), Murang’a (3), Machakos (2), Kilifi (2), Nakuru, (1), Siaya (1), Taita Taveta (1), Garissa, (1), Isiolo (1), Kakamega, (1), Kisii (1).

She disclosed that Nairobi, Mombasa and Busia lead with the number of patients with the novel virus. The Kenya’s capital has recorded 2,428, Mombasa 1,304and Busia 361 cases.

So far 40 out of 47 counties have announced positive cases.

Dr. Mwangangi further added that 151, 396 samples have been analyzed since the African nation reported its first case.

On recovery, she averred that 41 patients had been discharged from hospitals between Tuesday and Wednesday raising the number to 1,823. However, the number of fatalities has increased by 2 to 130.