Kenya’s Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 24 COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, the highest single-day toll since March when the virus was confirmed in the country, reported CGTN Africa.
“Sadly, 24 patients have succumbed to the disease bringing the fatality to 1,154,” said Health Cabinet Mutahi Kagwe in his daily update.
The ministry reported 1,344 new COVID-19 infections from a sample size of 7,162, taking the country’s total tally to 64,588. Nairobi reported the highest number of coronavirus cases at 322 followed by Kiambu which recorded 221 and Mombasa with 133. A total of 22 health care workers had also died from the disease so far.
“To date 2,108 healthcare workers who have tested positive for the virus, 1,074 males & 1,034 females. Unfortunately, we have also lost 22 healthcare workers since the pandemic struck. Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those who have lost their loved ones,” Kenya’s health ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also reported 436 new recoveries from the disease raising the total recoveries to 43,095.
The Kenyan government had previously imposed various restrictive measures to curb the spread of the virus, including a nighttime curfew and a partial lockdown of the country.
Around September, Kenya saw a decline in its caseload and that influenced the government to ease some restrictions and allowed schools to reopen.
But, unfortunately, in October, the country’s COVID-19 status deteriorated. Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta even branded it October has been recorded as the most tragic month in the country’s fight against the pandemic. He said the country’s positivity rate had increased to 16 percent in the month, four times what it was a month earlier.
He threatened stricter restrictions if the people of Kenya do not strictly follow the laid down COVID-19 protocols.
COVID-19 has claimed over 1.27 million lives in 190 countries and regions since it was first detected in Wuhan, China in December.
