Kenya's New Covid-19 Hotspots Even As Cases Fall Below 300

Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi addressing the media on the state of Covid-19 in Kenya. May 14, 2020.
Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi addressing the media on the state of Covid-19 in Kenya. May 14, 2020.
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Latest data on the Covid-19 data in Kenya shows the rise of new epicentres, despite the drop in daily recorded cases over the last week.

These are areas where a significant surge in confirmed cases has been recorded.

On August 18, Health CAS Rashid Aman warned Kenyans against dropping their guard due to the ongoing narrative that the curve was flattening.

3 counties have emerged as the new hotspots namely Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos.

Training for volunteers on handling deceased Covid-19 victims at Jamia Mosque Nairobi. 4th April 2020.
Training for volunteers on handling deceased Covid-19 victims at Jamia Mosque Nairobi on 4th April 2020.
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Jamia Mosque

Notably, all three counties are regarded as residential areas for the majority of Nairobians who commute to and from these places to the Central Business District (CBD) on a daily basis.

Kitengela, Athir River, Syokimau, Kiambu town, Ruaka, Kikuyu and Kabete are just some of the residential areas found in the aforementioned counties.

Between August 1 and August 18, Kiambu county was the leading area outside Nairobi in terms of confirmed Covid-19 cases which stood at 842.

August 5, recorded the most cases in a single day for that particular county with 112 testing positive.

During the same period, Kajiado recorded 496 cases, Machakos 298, and Nairobi 5,630.

Interestingly, Mombasa recorded only 161 cases during the 18-day period, further highlighting the drop in numbers in the coastal region.

However, Mombasa Public Health Chief Officer Aisha Abubakar pointed out that mass testing in suburbs was no longer being carried out.

The focus had now shifted to truck drivers and targeted testing among vulnerable groups.

"In a day, we get 400 samples. But people are claiming that we stopped testing. That is a lie as we are targeting truck drivers, who are being tested every day," she informed the media.

The new hotspots present a challenge in the capital city as a majority of residents in these areas work in the city.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has already come out to air his concerns over the recent spike.

"I am concerned about the rising numbers of Covid-19 especially in Mavoko sub-county, which accounts for about 90% of all positive cases," he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta pictured during the virtual meeting with the special coronavirus emergency taskforce on April 1, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta pictured during the virtual meeting with the special coronavirus emergency taskforce on April 1, 2020.
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