Kenya Reports 1130 New Covid-19 Cases At Positivity Rate of 22%

Kenya’s present overall COVID-19 case positivity rate of 22 per cent is the highest this year according to the Ministry of Health on Monday

In line with sentiments from doctors, the pandemic is not close to being under control.

According to the Ministry, 1130 people had tested positive for COVID-19 from a sample size of 5119, pushing the total of confirmed cases to 122,040.

The ministry said cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,419,984 since the first case was reported.

“754 patients have recovered from the disease bringing the total to 90,376, ” the ministry disclosed adding that unfortunately, 12 patients had succumbed to the disease pushing the cumulative fatalities to 2,023.

COVID-19 UPDATE
➡️1,130 people have tested positive from a sample size of 5,119.
➡️Total confirmed cases are now 122, 040.
➡️Cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,419,984 pic.twitter.com/6aLvAG1Vg4

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) March 22, 2021

“Our facilities may be overstretched but not overrun, on Jan 22, we had 27 cases in ICU. Yesterday (Sunday), we had 121 patients in ICU, more on ventilatory support. On Jan 22 we had 1553 patients, now we have 2545. We can easily get discouraged. I want to assure Kenyans that we are still striving to get adequate ICU and isolation beds,” Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

Kenya began vaccinating people on March 5 against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca shots via the global, vaccine-sharing COVAX facility.

The ministry plans to vaccinate 1.25 million people by June and another 9.6 million in the next phase.

Consequently, CS Kagwe has warned facilities from administering vaccines to people who are not on the priority list for phase 1.

“Those carrying vaccinations will have to account for the doses that they have used,” CS Kagwe said adding that “We have to be fair and transparent, We must follow the priority list, should we receive information to the contrary, we will take legal action and even take away licences. This is contrary to the law.”

 40,359 frontline workers have been vaccinated.

This first phase targets frontline workers who include health care workers, teachers and support staff in learning institutions, those serving in security and others in all ports of entry. https://t.co/B8AeApxPJx

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) March 21, 2021

Professor Lukoye Atwoli, Dean Aga Khan University and a member of the Global Health board through his official Twitter account says hospital labs are reporting even higher rates. 

“Community transmission is well established. Interventions have not changed. Mask. Hygiene. Distance. Vaccine when you are eligible.”

Dr Ahmed Yakub Kalebi, Founder and outgoing Group Managing Director, CEO & Chief Consultant Pathologist at Lancet Group of Laboratories East Africa similarly says “The 3rd wave has officially surpassed the 1st wave and continues to rapidly escalate chat with upwards trend with an intensification of community spread extending outside Nairobi, which means the 3rd wave may peak higher than the 2nd wave with deadly consequences.”