667 new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Kenya in the past 24 hours from a sample size of 5,075. The total cases are now 16,268. 393 of the new cases are males while 274 are females. Speaking to the press on Friday, Health CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi said most of the cases don’t require hospitalization since they are asymptomatic. Nairobi leads in new cases with 387, Kiambu has 40 cases, Mombasa 26, Machakos 47 Kajiado 79, Nakuru 15, Uasin Gishu 14, Garissa 11, Busia 9, Kilifi 6, Turkana 6, Makueni 5, Wajir 5, Kisumu 4, Nyeri 4, Lamu 4, Murang’a 2, Bomet, Bungoma, Narok and Nyamira have 1 case each.
She reiterated that despite the increase in cases, the health facilities aren’t overwhelmed. Around 80%-90% of patients are asymptomatic and qualify for home based care, 5% require medical care at hospitals and 5% require ICU care, according to Mwangangi. Kenya has 12,000 isolation beds with 1,179 receiving care in hospitals. 498 ICU beds are also available, with 50 Covid-19 patients under ICU care at the moment.
She said hospitals are open for treatment and Kenyans shouldn’t keep away, “Health facilities are open for treatment of all diseases, not just Covid-19. If you are unwell you should go and seek care at the health facilities.” This comes after a child who was suffering from rickets succumbed to the virus. 11 patients have died in the past day, with Coronavirus fatalities now at 274. However, 311 people have recovered in the same time frame-166 under home based care and 145 from various hospitals. The total recoveries are now 7,446.