Dr. Rashid Aman. Image courtesyKenya’s Ministry of health confirmed on Saturday, 143 new COVID-19 cases reported, just a day after posting 127 cases on Friday bringing the total to 1,888.
The country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic with cases steadily rising each day. Government have locked down a handful of counties including the capital Nairobi and imposed a night-time curfew as part of containment efforts.
A national curfew has been in place for the past two months until June 6, along with restrictions on cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Mandera Counties.
On Thursday, 147 new cases were recorded from various counties, with particular focus to Nairobi and Mombasa counties which have been recording high figures.
Kenya as of May 10 was the fourth most impacted country in the East / Horn of Africa region only behind Djibouti, Sudan and Somalia. Government also rolled out mass testing in virus hot spots, borders remain shut and a ban on public gatherings continues. Experts predicts that as the country draws closer to its peak the period will start in June and come to an end around September.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman said Kenya is it a critical period on the pandemic, and urged Kenyans to cooperate in observing social distancing and all other measures imposed to help prevent the spread.
The death toll in the country rose to 63 Saturday, after one more person succumbed to the virus.
The government has warned Kenyans against dropping the guard, after increased cases of people not using masks in public places were reported.
Dr Aman said the government was concerned at a new habit by leaders who have been holding large meetings, and urged them to respect the measures put in place.
“We must respect these guidelines because that is the only way we will be able to beat the virus,” he said.
Concerns were raised after COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli convened a meeting at his Kajiado residence on Friday, attended by more that 50 leaders, among them four Governors and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, in what was billed as a Luhya-unity bid.
Here in our country, the close down of businesses & job losses have led to serious disruption of livelihoods of many people. We estimate that over 300,000 people have lost their jobs, translating to about 3M families whose means of survival, has been interrupted. #KomeshaCorona. https://t.co/pb5f74zAfi
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) May 30, 2020
