Kenya’s Capital City, Nairobi, leads in the number of patients with Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). This is according to the latest reports that were released by Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday. The CS said Seven more people had tested positive of coronavirus bringing the total to 38. Of the seven new cases four are Kenyans, two Congolese and one Chinese. “Out of the seven, four had a history of travel from countries with active transmission, one had traveled to Mombasa while two did not have a history of travel,” noted the CS.
According to CS Kagwe, Nairobi Country leads with 28 cases of those who have so far tested positive for the contagious virus. Nairobi is followed by Kilifi with six patients, Mombasa with two, while Kajiado and Kwale have one each. Out of the 38 positive cases, 21 are male while 16 are female.
The CS said the Government through the Ministry is leaving no stone untouched in its bid to curtail further spread of the virus. “Tracing of contacts for the 38 confirmed cases is ongoing. The total number of close contacts who have been monitored stands at 1141. Out of this number, 163 have been discharged after completing the mandatory 14 day follow up period,” he said.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is monitoring 978 close contacts. Three individuals are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital awaiting test results and 833 have been tested so far. The CS said, as a precautionary move, the Government instituted mandatory quarantine for those who have tested positive and their contacts because of the seriousness of the coronavirus disease and its potential strain on the Country’s healthcare resources. So, what happens in case you are identified as a CoronaVirus patient’s contact? “Once you have been identified as a contact to a patient who has tested positive, the Ministry of Health shall send its officials to your house to escort you to a quarantine facility,” explained the CS.
“The purpose of mandatory quarantine is to have close monitoring of your wellbeing so as to safeguard your health and that of your family and the country at large,” he added.
he number of COVID19 cases in the United States has surpassed 110,000, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University(See image below). Italy comes in second with China taking third spot.
On the curfew that was effected on Friday, the CS had this to say; “I am appealing to our people to make it very unnecessary for them to engage with the police by staying at home. I am also urging the police that people must be treated humanely. Make it difficult if not impossible for the police to come into contact with you by just doing the right thing – stay at home. The number 659.59, as our curfew number should be a rallying call for all of us at this time”.
The CS had some good news, though. “The first patient and the third patient of the confirmed cases of coronavirus have tested negative on their first retesting and are awaiting for a repeat test which is scheduled after 48 hours. We remain hopeful that the repeat test will be negative confirming full recovery to allow for their discharge from our treatment centre”.
The Ministry will on Monday roll out mass testing for individuals in mandatory quarantine.
Kenyans are urged to follow the Ministry’s directives so as to effectively cut the infection chain. You are reminded to keep social distance, avoid public gatherings and washing hands with enough soap for about 25 seconds; among other precautions.
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