Kenya's Covid-19 Deaths Rise on Christmas Eve

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addressing the media on November 26, 2020
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addressing the media on November 26, 2020
File

A total of 236 people have tested positive for Covid-19 from a sample size of 3,773 tested over the last 24 hours. This takes the country's total Covid-19 tally to 95,431. 

Of the confirmed positive cases 211 are Kenyans while 25 are foreigners. However, 4 patients succumbed to the disease bringing total deaths to 1,652. 

The cumulative tests are now 1,025,653. Nairobi recorded the highest cases (99) followed by Mombasa(49)  and Kitui with (23.)

In the last 24 hours, 212 patients have recovered from the disease, 173 being from home-based programs and 39 have been discharged from various hospitals. Total recoveries now stand at 76,720.

42 patients are currently in ICU, 20 of them are on ventilatory support and 20 on supplementary oxygen. 2 are in observation.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe expressed gratitude to health workers who agreed to call off their nationwide strike after brokering a truce with the government. 

Kagwe has asked Kenyans to avoid Unnecessary travel during this festive season as they run the risk of transmitting the infection to other parts of the country. 

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe addressing the Nation about Corona Virus outside Afya House on March 17, 2020.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe addressing the Nation about Corona Virus outside Afya House on March 17, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

He, however, noted that many will travel and asked those doing so to travel safely and observe Covid-19 protocols and guidelines. Urging them to protect themselves and families, the Health CS tasked Kenyans to take safety into their hands by refusing to travel in overcrowded cars.

Speaking at the press conference that announced the end of the doctor's strike, Kagwe hailed the much-awaited truce as a befitting gift to Kenyans this Christmas period. 

On Monday, Kagwe highlighted that he was working with the Ministry of Transport and the Inspector General of Police and cautioned that matatu operators found breaking the rules will have their vehicles impounded.

Further, he warned Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators against ferrying more passengers than is required with an aim of making more profit over the festive period.

"Some drivers and touts may be guided by their greed and opt to ferry more passengers. We will not allow this as it will worsen the pandemic," he cautioned.

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai speaking at the special sitting held by the National Assembly's Committee on Education on February 26.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai speaking at the special sitting held by the National Assembly's Committee on Education on February 26.
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He said that impounded vehicles would only be released in January, after the Christmas and New Year Holidays.

Kenyans travel upcountry in droves at this time of the year, making public service vehicles a possible hotspot for transmitting new infections. 

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