Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, while addressing the media on Thursday, June 4, announced that 124 people had tested positive from 2,640 Coronavirus samples in the last 24 hours.
This brings the total tally to 2,340 confirmed Covid-19 cases from 87,693 samples.
Out of the 124, 119 were Kenyans, 2 Tanzanians, and 1 Eritrean. The figures do not include foreigners tested at the border, who were turned away from entering into Kenya.
In terms of counties, Mombasa had 40 cases, Nairobi 38, Busia 26, and Kajiado 6. Elgeyo Marakwet County recorded its first case bringing the total number of Counties affected to 36 out of 47.
In Mombasa, 14 cases were from Mvita, 14 from Kisauni, and 11 from Changamwe. In Nairobi, the cases were recorded from Kibera quarantine centers and Kamukunji.
The CS also announced that 39 individuals were discharged, with recoveries now at 592. 4 deaths were recorded taking the tally to 48.
According to Kagwe, over 80 percent of patients in the hospital are asymptomatic and can be managed from home. This would reduce congestion in health facilities. He added that his docket had rolled out home-based care.
“World Health Organisation regulations, however, have to be maintained and facilities will be analyzed. The government will still aid in case individual homes cannot be used as quarantine. We have been in school, learning how to manage this disease, and time has come when we have to manage our own disease, with our own system and in our own environment.
“The most important thing is our warriors in this disease. You and I. It will call for a degree of discipline that we will have to stick to lest we have a problem. I am appealing that Kenyans should understand that the asymptomatic patients will not be a danger to you and there is no need for stigma,” he stated.
He added that the government had disbanded a grant of Ksh 5 billion to 47 counties to boost the fight against Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“The reason is that it is now up to the county government to utilize these funds to ensure our hospitals are adequately equipped and our health workers are catered for,” the CS stated.
Kagwe also disclosed that Kenya had also received a Ksh 50 billion grant and Ksh 6 billion in cash meant for child health from Gavi, a global health organization that improves access to vaccines. The firm is based in Geneva-Switzerland.
He further warned that Covid-19 was far from being curbed and it would require corporation from both the government and Kenyans.
“The level of the disease spread in our villages and estates has become clearer from the mass testing rolled out in the past weeks and we cannot relent if we have to safeguard lives.
“I want to extend my appreciation to all who have stood with us and cooperated with the government in the last months. I know it has not been easy as businesses have been affected and our life turned upside down. This disease has tested our resolve but it has not managed to break our resilience,” CS Kagwe prayed.
