Covid-19: 74 Test Positive as Cases Jump to 1,962

Health CAS Rashid Aman addressing the media at a press briefing. May 13, 2020.
Health CAS Rashid Aman addressing the media at a press briefing. May 13, 2020.
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Health CAS Rashid Aman on Sunday, May 31, announced that 74 individuals had tested positive for Covid-19 over the preceding 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 1,962.

Speaking during the daily Covid-19 briefing at Afya House, the CAS stated that 1,574 samples had been tested during the period bringing the total samples tested in the country to 78,536.

He further revealed that of the new cases, 55 were male and 19 female, with the youngest a 3-year-old and the oldest being 79 years of age.

Fourteen Covid-19 patients were discharged over the same period after recovering from the coronavirus, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 474.

An image of medical officers in a hospital
Medical staff in protective suits in a hospital.

Unfortunately, one patient from Nairobi's Kayole Estate succumbed to the disease bringing the total fatalities to 64. 

"This number of positives is still high and we must be concerned as a nation. The daily rise demands that we reflect on our attitude and behaviour towards the containment measures," stated Aman.

The distribution of the cases by county indicated that Nairobi led with 35 cases followed by Mombasa (23), Busia (6), Kiambu (2), Kwale (2), Kajiado (2), Uasin Gishu (2), Kilifi (1), Laikipia (1) and Taita Taveta (1).

"Laikipia becomes the latest county to record a positive Covid-19 case bringing the tally of the affected so far to 34

"Once again our gratitude goes to our health workers who are working day and night to ensure our people are well managed," he added.

"The distribution of cases by sub-counties is as follows; The 35 cases from Nairobi are from Lang'ata (19), Embakasi East (3), Embakasi Central (3), Dagoretti North (2), Westlands (2), Embakasi South (2), Kasarani (1), Kamukunji (1), Makadara (1) and Starehe (1)," he continued.

Mvita led the pack in Mombasa with 11 cases followed by Kisauni (4), Likoni and Nyali (3 each) while Jomvu and Changamwe recorded one each.

While marking the World No Tobacco Day, Aman underscored the significance of the day in that it sensitised people, especially the youth against the use of tobacco and nicotine.

"Nicotine is highly addictive and tobacco use is a huge risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and some types of cancers.

"In addition, smokers are more vulnerable to severe forms of Covid-19 disease. Every year, more than eight million people die from tobacco use," he added.

Watch the press briefing below:

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