57 Test Positive as Kenya's Covid-19 Cases Rise to 887

A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at the Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

The Ministry of Health on Sunday, May 17, announced that 57 individuals had tested positive for Covid-19 over the preceding 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 887.

MoH, in a departure from daily Covid-19 briefings, sent a statement to newsrooms stating that 2,198 samples had been tested during the period.

Of the 57, 34 were male while 23 were female, "The youngest of the cases is a 2-year-old while the oldest is 61 years. Cumulatively, we have so far tested 43,712 samples," the statement reads in part.

The distribution of the cases by counties is as follows: Mombasa (35), Nairobi (17), Kajiado (3), Kwale (1), and Kitui (1).

Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna addresses the media at Kenyatta National Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna addresses the media at Kenyatta National Hospital on Saturday, March 14, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

"We are happy to note that 12 patients have been discharged from hospital, bringing the total number of people who have so far recovered from Coronavirus to 313," the press briefing signed by Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna further reads.

In Mombasa, the 35 cases were distributed in the following estates; Mvita (22), Likoni (4), Changamwe (3), Nyali (3), Kisauni (2), and Jomvu recorded one case.

On the other hand, the 17 Nairobi cases were distributed in the following estates: Kibra (9), a mandatory quarantine centre in the capital (2), Eastleigh (2), Aga Khan, Kamulu, Dandora and Pangani all registered one case each.

Another 12 Tanzanian truck drivers tested positive at the border testing facilities over the last  24 hours, the latest report revealed.

11 of them were captured at the Lunga Lunga Border while 1 was identified at the Taveta Border, with the Ministry confirming that all 12 truckers were referred back to their home country.

"We continue to appeal to Kenyans to continue observing the measures advised  by the government,

"These measures must be observed together with the directives issued yesterday, May 16, 2020, by His Excellency the President," reads an excerpt from the MoH statement. 

Quizzed by Kenyans.co.ke on the reason behind the sudden change in the order of announcing Covid-19 updates, Oguna said, "Yesterday, the president made a comprehensive statement that all Kenyans need to digest. What is important is adhering to the protocols needed to contain the spread of the virus. We wanted Kenyans to take to heart what the president conveyed." 

He further urged Kenyans not to speculate over the whereabouts of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, adding he is well and busy carrying out his duty.

"It cannot be that CS Health makes all the briefings. It is by design that a different person does so every once in a while. The CS is well and the public must not be read anything beyond this," he stated.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addresses the media at Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addresses the media at Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke