The percentage of cases of Covid-19 compared to swabs carried out in Kenya is decreasing.
This is the most important figure from the last day of national screening. Numbers that allow a cautious optimism, because they photograph more than any other figure recorded in 24 hours the possible national projection of the incidence of the pandemic.
From the average of 17% recorded in the first two weeks of November, defined by the Ministry of Health as the worst ever, we have passed to 14.5 of the two previous days and to 12% yesterday, Friday 20 November.
The hope is that even in the presence of a considerable amount of tampons (yesterday there were only 8,660) the percentages can hold to return to the levels that had advised President Kenyatta to reopen the country. All this to avoid the possibility that some counties may be closed during the Christmas holidays. A solution proposed by Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, who in any case ruled out a national lockdown, unless there were unexpected surges.
In any case, Kenya is by no means out of danger, as demonstrated by the fact that the World Health Organization has included it, together with 18 other African countries, in those defined as "under observation". Among these are also realities such as South Africa, which has faced one of the toughest and longest continental lockdowns, and Nigeria, where street protests have undermined public safety and consequently made it more difficult to contain the virus. Kenya, on the other hand, is under pressure, mainly because of the disregard of rules and protocols by its citizens who, especially in rural areas, seem to be totally indifferent to the possible incidence of Covid-19 in their lives.
In the last 24 hours Kenya has recorded 1,048 official positive cases (30 of these were detected by foreign nationals).
There are 19 deaths linked to the disease, bringing the total national coronavirus mortality rate to 1349.
326 patients recovered, 219 from the home care programme and 107 were discharged from various hospitals. Total recoveries now total 50,984.
There are still 1,114 patients admitted to various hospitals across the country, while 6,332 are being treated at home. 52 patients are in intensive care, 28 of whom are in ventilatory support and 24 in supplementary oxygen. A further 71 patients are receiving supplementary oxygen, 70 of whom are in general wards, while only one is in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Distribution in counties: Nairobi leads with 408, Kericho 84, Mombasa 80, Kiambu 71, Busia 52, Migori 36, Uasin Gishu 35, Kisumu and Machakos25, Kajiado 23, Siaya 18, Bungoma 15, Nakuru 13, Kakamega 14, Taita Taveta 12, Bomet, Makueni and Nyeri 11, Kilifi and Laikipia 10, Baringo, Nandi and Kwale 9, Meru 8, Vihiga 6, Murang'a, West Pokot, Mandera and Kitui 5, Kirinyaga 4, Trans Nzoia 3, Embu 3, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Tharaka Nithi, Garissa and Tana River 2, Homa Bay, Turkana and Nyamira 1.