486 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19, out of a sample size of 4,134 tested in the last 24 hours with a positivity rate of 11.8 percent.
The total number of confirmed positive Covid-19 cases now stands at 145,670 while the cumulative tests conducted so far are 1,561,838.
Of the cases announced today, 463 are Kenyans while 23 are foreigners, while 278 are male and 208 are female. The youngest is a three-month-old infant while the oldest is 94- years old.
The latest updates comes amid reports of a scarcity of a unique Covid-19 Drug in the country. Tocilizumab, is a drug that was developed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, is an injectable treatment for adults.
It can reduce Covid-19 patients’ need for mechanical ventilation and improve chances of survival.
The drug also can be used to moderate severely active rheumatoid arthritis patients, who have had an inadequate response to one or more drugs.
The drug is out of stock in most pharmacies, with some opting not to stock it because of the high price.
At one of the private hospitals, the drug was going for Sh200,000 a dose. A patient needs two doses. Some have taken to social media to search for information on where and how they can get Tocilizumab.
“We have not had the drug since last year,” a pharmacist at Kenyatta National Hospital said.
Regrettably,18 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. Two occurred in the last 24 hours, 10 within the last one month while 6 are late death reports from facility record audits that occurred on diverse dates. This pushes our cumulative fatalities to 2,348.
At the same time, 490 patients have recovered from the disease, 172 from the Home-Based and Isolation Care, while 318 are from various health facilities.
The total number of recoveries now stands at 99,095.
Currently, a total of 1,660 patients are admitted to various health facilities countrywide, while 5,994 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care.
256 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 44 of whom are on ventilatory support and 181 on supplemental oxygen. 31 patients are on observation.
Another 257 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 236 of them in the general wards and 21 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Elsewhere, the Auditor General’s report on the utilization of Covid-19 funds has flagged Bungoma and Meru Counties for misappropriating the funds.
According to the report, Bungoma County cannot account for over Ksh20 million earmarked for mitigating the pandemic while Meru County flouted procurement laws to purchase Covid-19 related items worth Ksh10million.
Also starting Thursday, April 15, passengers arriving in Ireland from Kenya will be required to have pre-booked hotel quarantine provisions before being allowed entry into the Island in Europe.
