Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday, May 6, announced that 47 people had tested positive for Covid-19 in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases within the country to 582.
Thirty two of the new cases were from Mombasa, 11 from Nairobi, two from Busia, with Kiambu and Kwale registering one case each, he further revealed
Speaking at Afya House, the CS stressed the significance of the latest numbers being the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the first case was announced on March 13, 2020.
He further announced that 8 people had been discharged bringing total recoveries to 190 and that two more people had died from the virus bringing total fatalities to 26.
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"Two more people aged 68 and 76 have passed on in Mombasa while at home, bringing the total number of deaths to 26," he announced.
In a bid to curb the rampant spread of the virus within Nairobi and Mombasa, the Health CS announced a new cessation of movement order in two estates within both cities: Eastleigh (Nairobi) and Old Town (Mombasa), starting 7 p.m. May 6.
"There shall be a cessation of movement in and out of Eastleigh and Mombasa Old Town for the next 15 days," he declared.
Under the new directive, the Health CS outlined several measures that would be effected including the cessation of public transport operations within the two estates.
He further detailed much-awaited incentive by the national government to encourage more Kenyans to volunteer for the Covid-19 tests.
"The cost of targeted testing for Covid-19 and government quarantine facilities shall be met by the government effective today. Kenyans should not be afraid to get tested" he stated.
Also speaking during the briefing, Transport CS James Macharia, announced that several measures had been put in place to counter the spread of the virus across counties, citing the case of a patient who had travelled from Tanzanian as a cautionary tale.
"One patient hospitalised in Kenyatta National Hospital came in to Kenya from Tanzania through Loitokitok using matatus. This shows us the danger we are in, and further tells why the measures in the transport system have been put in place," he explained.
"Truck drivers must be tested 48 hours before travel and be issued a Covid-19 free certificate which is valid for 14 days. Before being let in to the Mombasa port, Nairobi and Naivasha, as well as at the border points, they will be required to submit the COVID-19 free certificate," he added.
