Kenya has recorded 1,494 more Covid-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours as the country’s total caseload rises to 58,587. The caseload today is higher than Saturday’s October 31, 1,395 cases which was the previous highest number of daily cases.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 4, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced that 8,839 samples had been tested over the period, bringing the total number of samples tested so far to 717,172.
Of the positive cases, 870 are male and 624 are female while the youngest case is a 10-month old infant and the oldest is aged 98.
At the same time, 586 patients were discharged, 413 from home-based care, and 173 from the various hospitals around the country bringing the total number of recoveries to 38,381.
Regrettably, 12 patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,051.
Currently, there are 1,313 patients admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 5,005 are on home-based isolation and care.
57 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 25 of whom are on ventilatory support, and 27 on supplemental oxygen of whom 77 are in the general wards, while 18 are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
In the distribution by counties, Nairobi led with 414 cases followed by Nakuru with 188, Mombasa 173, Kiambu 150, Uasin Gishu 107, Turkana 52, Kilifi 50, Garissa 35, Taita Taveta 35, Kajiado 31, Baringo 31, West Pokot 31, Laikipia 28, Kisumu 28, Murang’a 14, Machakos 13, Nyandarua 12, Siaya 12, Meru 12, Elgeyo Marakwet 11.
Embu and Kericho counties recorded 10 cases each, Narok 9, Kitui 6, Makueni 6, Bomet 5, Marsabit 4, Kakamega 4, Lamu 3, Samburu 3, Kwale, Kisii 2, Tana river 2 and Nyamira 1.
During an address at State House, Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta noted that since the containment measures were relaxed in September 2020, the bed occupancy in hospitals had risen by 140% in 38 days.
“Positivity rate which had dropped to 4% in September has now shot up to 16% in the month of October which is four times what it was in September. October has been the most tragic month in the fight against Covid-19,” he stated.
He observed that in the month of October, the country had over 15,000 new cases of Covid-19 and about 300 deaths.
“We are now staring at a new wave of this pandemic. We have to ask where we went wrong and what we could have done differently,” he stated.
He also suspended all political gatherings and rallies for 60 days, asking politicians to seek permission and also limit attendees.
He also directed that any political meetings should be carried out in community halls and have only a third of the capacity of the hall.
