Kenya has recorded the highest number of corona virus infection in a day after 45 people tested positive to the disease bringing the tally to 535.
Out of 1,077 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 45 people have turned positive for Coronavirus, this being the highest number ever recorded since the first cases was registered on March 12th.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said out of the confirmed cases , 29 are from Nairobi, 11 from Mombasa, 5 are from Wajir, and one 1 is a foreign national from Somali. The five from Wajir have a history of recent travel to Mogadishu.
The CS further said that 30 were male and 15 are female with their age distribution being from two years for the youngest and 87 years for the oldest
The Country, the CS however noted had recorded new discharges brining now the total number of those who have recovered from the disease to 182.
In terms of gender, thirty (30) are males and fifteen (15) are females. This gender distribution is a reflection of the global figures which show that more men than women are getting infected.
Kagwe explained that the cumulative distribution of cases in three specific areas in the country are as f Eastleigh which so far has 63 cases , Kawangware 24 and Old Town in Mombasa 39. T
“These figures show that the disease is fast spreading in these areas and in order to minimize transmission and contain the spread of the disease, it is important to test, trace and treat. This is the objective of our targeted testing”, he said.
The CS said the manner in which the cases are escalating and also the way the disease has completely altered our way of life does not promise that life will be the same in the near future.
He said the trend the country is experiencing especially in Mombasa old town, Eastleigh and also Kawangware will need the government to take action in those particular areas and that they are in the process of consultation to determine the action that should be taken.
“Things have not been easy. In fact, they are not what they used to be. Our lives have been turned upside down by this pandemic. What I know is that if TOGETHER WE stay focused, we shall surely overcome and get our lives back!”, CS said
CS Kagwe has thus appealed to Kenyans to continue to observe measures put noting that the government needs everybody’s support and cooperation which is now critical considering the disturbing activities especially in the urban centres that have been going on.
“World over, those who have delayed to make the appropriate interventions against Covid-19 have paid a heavy price. Those who have taken for granted the simple demands of the times such as social distancing, hand washing, observing basic hygiene and proper wearing of facemasks and those who have opted to remain bystanders as their leadership pleaded with them to play their respective roles, ended up being swallowed by this disease.”, CS Kagwe said.
Those who continue on the path of not adhering to measures especially in the recent opened hotels and eateries and also not observing curfew hours will bear the brunt of law and we will even go further and even deregister their eateries according to the law
Meanwhile, as the world celebrates the International Day of the midwife today, CS Kagwe said the government celebrates their tireless commitments and professionalism in delivering safe, effective, respectful and quality care to mothers, and their babies.
“As frontline health workers, midwives are particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus disease. This means that pregnant women and babies are at high risk too. We are taking action to ensure they are all protected and this includes providing all midwives with the same personal protective equipment (PPEs) that other front-line health workers use to insulate themselves from contagion.”. the CS said.
Kagwe thanked the support provided by organizations such as United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in scaling up midwifery services and supporting training efforts to ensuere that midwives not only provide life-saving interventions to women and babies, but also educate against stigmatization, empower and enable women to lead healthy lives and to exercise their right to sexual and reproductive health.
Today’s International day of midwifes is running under the theme: Midwives with women: Celebrate, Demonstrate, Mobilize, Unite.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Ag. Director General Ministry of health said that contact tracing for the positive cases identified at community level begins immediately.
He thanked community especially in Eastleigh who have turned up in larger numbers of mass testing.
On self-quarantine at home, Dr. Amoth said the government has developed some guideline which are being fine-tuned but clarified that in order for one to self-quarantine, social mapping of their areas have to be critically looked at to ensure they are feasible to maintain even social distancing lest they put their loved ones and even community in danger.
By Wangari Ndirangu
Kenya Records Highest Covid 19 Infection in a Day
