Kenya’s Covid-19 cases hit 19,000 mark

By Samuel Ouma

The Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed 544 new Covid-19 cases raising the total caseload in the country to 19,125.

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe said the new infections were part of 5,259 people whose samples were analyzed in the last 24 hours across the country.

Out of the positive cases, 340 are males and 204 are females.

Addressing journalists during a press conference at Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) headquarters in Nairobi, the CS attributed the rise in the number of cases to cold weather urging the members of the public to avoid congregating.

“It is possible the weather is also part of the reason COVID-19 figures are going up. It is the flu season,” he said.

Kagwe also revealed that 634 healthcare workers have contracted the novel virus which is equivalent to 3 per cent of the reported cases.

He called on medical professionals to adhere to Covid-19 rules stipulated by the ministry giving an example of a doctor who tested positive for the virus and continued to offer services until he was exposed by a colleague.

At the same time, he said that 113 patients have recovered bringing the total number of recoveries to 8,021.

Regrettably, 12 more patients have died of the diseases meaning death toll now stands at 311.

The minister downplayed claims that hydroxychloroquine cures Covid-19.

“The biggest mistake I think is just imagining that if the person is called a doctor he is an expert in everything…I want to urge that, please, let not everyone become an expert because there’s Covid-19,” the CS warned.