For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic emergency, Kenya recorded more than a thousand cases in a single day, with a record number of positive cases in the country, with a 14% rate of positivity compared to texts.
In the bulletin sent to the editorial staff by Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, 1068 people in Kenya were positive after 7556 swabs in the 24 hours prior to Thursday 22 October.
47212 people have been infected in Kenya since 13 March, with 13292 cases still active, according to the data provided by the Ministry. This brings us back to the levels of 7 September, compared to the positive ones in the country.
Of the cases, 1,044 are Kenyan and 24 foreigners. Unfortunately, 12 patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the total number of deaths to 870.
In the same period of time, Kenya recorded 290 recoveries, 235 from the home care programme and 55 from various hospitals.
Currently, according to Kagwe, there are 27 patients in intensive care while 45 are on supplementary oxygen, 27 are on ventilatory support and 12 are in the high dependency unit.
A total of 1,121 patients are admitted to various hospitals, while 3,112 are in isolation and home care. Of the new cases, 666 are male and 402 are female.
Nairobi is always the city with the most cases: 305. Nakuru follows with 137, Mombasa 74, Kisumu 60, Kericho 58, Nandi 48, Uasin Gishu 48, Kakamega 47, Kilifi 34, Kisii 28, Laikipia 26, Turkana 22, Meru 20, Kajiado and Kiambu 18, Garissa 15, Busia 14, Machakos 14, West Pokot 12, Murang'a and Migori 9, Bomet, Isiolo and Nyamira 6, Siaya 5, Narok, Nyeri and Wajir 4, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Kirinyaga and Baringo 3. Finally, Elgeyo Marakwet, Lamu, Nyandarua, Taita Taveta and Embu 1. Thirty-seven out of 47 counties report positivity.
The progressive increase in the daily number of cases has fuelled unfounded rumours about the possibility of a new lockdown of the country or at least of the counties considered most at risk and where hospitals are once again filling up with patients. Especially because for a week now the percentage has been fluctuating well above the attention threshold of 10%.
In the meantime, cases are increasing in schools and educational institutions that have reopened. They affect not only students but also teachers and some school facilities have already had to close.