Kenya's Covid-19 Cases Rise to 830

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi, in April 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi, in April 2020
File

Kenya's confirmed Covid-19 cases have risen to 830 after 49 more people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced this during his Covid-19 briefing on Saturday, May 16. He further announced that 7 more people had been discharged after recovering, bringing the total recoveries to 301.

5 more people succumbed to the virus, taking the total fatalities to 50.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, March 25, 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, March 25, 2020
PSCU

The Head of State mourned Kenyans who had succumbed to the virus, issuing a rallying call to members of the public to take the pandemic seriously or risk more deaths.

"Indeed fellow Kenyans it is sad to note that close to 50 per cent of these confirmed deaths occurred at home. I take this opportunity on behalf of all Kenyans to send condolences to the families and friends of those we have lost to the pandemic. The life of every Kenyan is precious, and I together with millions of Kenyans mourn the lost dreams," President Kenyatta stated.

The Head of state extended gratitude to health workers in the country for their combined efforts in fighting the Covid-19 virus in the country.

"I want to thank the dedicated and skilled Kenyans who are working round the clock to tame the virus in the country," he stated.

President Kenyatta further revealed that the virus had spread to 22 counties in the country.

He urged members of the public to adhere to the measures issued by the national government through the Ministry of Health or risk more infections.

He announced that the country had experienced an increase in the number of confirmed cases among members crossing the border into the country. He noted that a total of 43 cases in the country over the last week, were imported cases, having crossed the border from neighbouring Tanzania, and Somalia.

Wajir had 14 cross-border cases, Namanga 16, Isibania 10, Lunga Lunga 2, and Loitoktok 1, which amounted to a great percentage of the cases confirmed in the course of the week as of May 15, 2020.

As of May 16, the Head of State revealed that 78 truck drivers who are foreign nationals, tested positive for Covid-19 and were denied entry into the country at different border points.

President Kenyatta went on to extend the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew for a further 21 days to June 6, 2020. He also announced that the cessassion of movement in and out of Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Mandera was extended for the same period of time.

"In accordance with the advice by the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus and our National Security Council, I am today directing that the dusk to dawn curfew that is currently in force, will be extended for a further period of 22 days up to and until the 6th of June 2020.

"That the cessation of movement into and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan area and the Counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Mandera, shall also be extended up to and until the 6th of June 2020," the president declared.

The president added that the government would continue to take every measure to protect the lives of Kenyans from the pandemic.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on April 6, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on April 6, 2020.
PSCU
  • . . . .