7 more Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Kenya, bringing the total number of cases to 179. The 7 patients are all Kenyans, with 4 having a travel history. 5 of the cases are in Nairobi, 1 in Mombasa and 1 in Uasin Gishu. The results were part of 305 tested samples. “2 of the cases emanated from our mandatory quarantine facilities while 5 were picked up by our surveillance teams,” said Health CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi. So far, the number of recoveries is 9, while fatalities is 6.
In a new directive, all salons and barbershops have been ordered to ensure they have sanitizers and all operators in the salons and barbershops must have facemasks. The Health CAS further said that all private testing facilities as a matter of law are required to share their results with the Health Ministry for the purposes of monitoring this situation and ensuring proper notification is done in accordance with WHO regulations, “We do need to remember fellow Kenyans that this is a public health issue we are dealing with,” she said.
She said that all labs conducting tests must follow the protocols when it comes to confirming negative or positive cases. This comes after reports emerged that at least 17 MPs and Senators have tested positive for the Coronavirus. However, Dr. Mwangangi said the government doesn’t have any official reporting of the cases to the Ministry of Health.
According to government statistics, most of the Covid-19 cases in Kenya are mild to moderate. Ministry of Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth said the government is developing guidelines for home based care for Coronavirus, and after all is ready, then Counties health management teams will be brought up to speed so that mild cases can be managed at home.