Coronavirus in Kenya: Confirmed COVID-19 cases and latest updates

COVID-19 has now become a global nuisance. Economies are grappling to stay afloat amid extreme precautionary measures that are rendering most people immobile. WHO (World Health Organization) has declared the disease a pandemic. Unfortunately, people are getting infected in different parts of the world. Europe, one of the most-visited continents is struggling to contain the virus. And Kenya is among the most recently affected. What are the latest updates of COVID-19 in Kenya?

The Kenyan government has created strict screening points at all locations of entry to detect COVID-19 symptoms. Kenya's on high alert, placing more emphasis on preventive measures.

Updated 17: 03 EAT, April 16, 2020

• The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, has announced 9 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 234. These were discovered from 704 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
• The number of recoveries of COVID-19 in Kenya and those that have been discharged from different isolation centres remains at 53. However, one more person has succumbed to the virus bringing the total deaths to 11.
• According to the government, over 1,000 are in quarantine, while 156 are at different isolation facilities.
• Uhuru Kenyatta announced various measures to support combatting of COVID-19 in Kenya.

Updated 17: 24 EAT, April 15, 2020

• The government has tested 803 samples in the last 24 hours and has discovered 9 (all Kenyans) more COVID-19 cases in Kenya. The total of all confirmed cases is now 225. Five of these cases are from Nairobi County and four from Mombasa County.
• 12 more people have been discharged from various isolation centres after a full recovery, bringing the total number of recoveries to 53. However, one person succumbed to Coronavirus bringing total deaths to 10.
• The Ministry of Health has dispatched a team to Siaya County, led by Dr Patrick Amoth to examine quarantine and isolation centres.
• The government has received a consignment of 18,900 swabs and viral transportation medium, 18,912 extraction kits, medical disposal protective clothing, ventilation machines, thermometer guns and medical gloves from Jack Ma Foundation. The WHO has also sent more equipment and supplies to help combat COVID-19 in Kenya.

Updated 18: 24 EAT, April 14, 2020

• Ministry of Health CAS, Mercy Mwangangi has announced 8 (5 Kenyans and 3 foreigners) more positive COVID-19 cases in Kenya, bringing the total to 216. Six are from Nairobi County while Siaya and Nakuru Counties have one each. These new cases were confirmed from 694 samples tested in the last 24 hours.
• 1 more person has been discharged from hospital after a full recovery, bringing the total to 41.
• According to the Health CAS, mass testing for COVID-19 will be according to high-risk regions. Also, about 12,000 test kits are going to be deployed during the first phase in Nairobi, Mombasa, Siaya and Mandera Counties.

Updated 17: 45 EAT, April 13, 2020

• The government has tested 674 samples in the last 24 hours. Out of this, 11 (all Kenyans) have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total to 208. 6 of these cases are male while five are female.
• The youngest patient is one year old, and the most aged, 42 years old. Mandera County has the most significant number of these cases at 4, Mombasa County 3, Nairobi County 2, Nakuru and Machakos Counties have 1 each.
• 14 people have been discharged from hospital after successful treatment of COVID-19 in Kenya. Additionally, another positive case has tested negative after a mandatory 2-test. These additional recoveries bring Kenya’s total to 40. However, 1 person has recently died, increasing the total number to 9.

Updated 18: 40 EAT, April 12, 2020

• Kenya’s COVID-19 cases rise to 197 as 6 more individuals test positive. These were detected from 766 samples tested in the last 24 hours from various centres in Kenya. Four of these cases are from Nairobi County while Mombasa and Siaya Counties have one each.
• The number of recoveries of COVID-19 in Kenya has risen to 25 after one person recently recovered. However, one patient died in Siaya, bringing the total number of deaths to 8.
• The Ministry of Health, through various centres, has tested 7,449 cases since the first Coronavirus case was reported.

Updated 16: 38 EAT, April 11, 2020

• The total number of those infected with COVID-19 in Kenya stands at 191. 2 more positive cases (1 in Mombasa and another in Nairobi) were confirmed in the last 24 hours, detected from test results of 491 samples.
• 109 of the 191 confirmed cases are male, while 82 are female. Also, 124 people among those infected and confirmed by the Ministry of Health are aged between 30 and 59 years, 50 between 15 and 29 years, and 7 above 60 years old. Only two are below 2 years of age.
• 2 more have been discharged from hospital having tested negative for COVID-19. This brings Kenya’s total of those that have fully recovered to 24.

Updated 19: 08 EAT, April 10, 2020

• The Ministry of Health has announced that it will start automatic COVID-19 tests using automated test machines located at KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute).
• The government has tested 504 samples within the past 24 hours. Out of this samples, 5 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total to 189. Three of these new cases are in Mombasa County while Nairobi and Nyandarua Counties have one each.
• 10 individuals are scheduled to be discharged from Mbagathi Hospital COVID-19 isolation facility. These recent negative cases bring the total of all recovered cases to 22.

Updated 18:33 EAT, April 9, 2020

• Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health has revealed 5 (3 Kenyans and 2 foreigners) more cases of COVID-19 in Kenya. 3 of these cases are in Nairobi, while 2 are from Mombasa County. These additional cases bring the number of total COVID-19 cases in Kenya to 184.
• According to the ministry of health, out of the 184 positive Coronavirus cases in Kenya, 3 are below 15 years old, 49 between 15 and 29 years old, 119 between 30 and 59 years old, and 13 people above 60 years old. 107 of these positive cases are males, while 77 are females.
• 4 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours and are free of Coronavirus. This brings the total of those that have recovered to 12. Unfortunately, 1 more person has died from COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total number of deaths to 7.

Updated 18:20 EAT, April 8, 2020

• 7 people (all Kenyans with travel history) have tested positive for the Coronavirus disease out of 305 samples tested in the past 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Kenya is now 179. However, 2 additional patients have been discharged.
• The government is hiring 500 more doctors to help in combatting the COVID-19 menace in Kenya. This recent increase is according to the latest address by Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, the CAS, Ministry of Health.
• As the number of COVID-19 in Kenya is rising, the government is stepping up prevention and treatment measures. They have requested people hoarding oxygen gas cylinders to avail them because of the high demand for critically ill patients.
• All private health facilities have been directed to share all their COVID-19 test results based on the Public Health Act and international health regulations.
• The Ministry of Health has issued further measures for all salon and barber-shop attendants to wear face masks at all times.

Updated 17:30 EAT, April 7, 2020

• The government, through the Ministry of Health, has announced the recovery of 3 Coronavirus patients. So far, 696 samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, and 14 (12 Kenyans and 2 foreigners) have tested positive for COVID-19. Kenya’s COVID-19 cases have now risen to 172.
• Out of the new COVID-19 cases in Kenya, Nairobi accounts for 7 while Mombasa and Mandera Counties have two each. Kiambu, Kisii, and Machakos Counties have one each.
• Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health Mutahi Kagwe announced further measures to improve social distancing. These are:

Updated 16:48 EAT, April 6, 2020

• The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, announced 16 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Kenya. The total number so far stands at 158 out of which 6 have died, and 4 have recovered. The government has tested a total of 4,277 individuals.
• The National Security Council has issued specific measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19 to other regions in the country.

• The President has also directed the National County Government to supply free water to all informal settlements.
• Further, Uhuru Kenyatta has instructed the National Treasury to reallocate the entire domestic and international travel budget for this period towards combatting COVID-19 in Kenya. He also directed the same for proceeds of corruption.

Updated 18:00 EAT, April 5, 2020

• The number of COVID-19 cases in Kenya has increased to 142. The new sixteen cases (15 Kenyans and 1 Nigerian) were discovered in the last 24 hours from 530 samples tested at various designated centres in the country. 12 cases are from Nairobi County, 3 Mombasa County and 1 from Kilifi County. Fortunately, no more deaths have been reported so far.
• The Ministry of Health has reiterated that the production of masks is happening locally, and they will be distributed via county channels and other organized groups.
• The Transport Cabinet Secretary has extended the ban on international flights for another 30 days. The previous 2-week ban was expiring on April 5, 2020. All cargo flights are still operational.
• The government is taking further measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya by following up on previous order for passenger numbers on public transport vehicles. The Transport Cabinet Secretary has announced stringent measures (suspension of SACCO license and bonding of vehicles) on matatus that flout the directive.

Updated 17:00 EAT, April 4, 2020

• The number of confirmed positive cases has risen to 126. The Ministry of Health confirmed 4 (3 Kenyans and 1 Pakistani national) cases out of 372 samples that were tested in the past 24 hours.
• The government has already tested 1,866 individuals out of 2,050 of those who were in mandatory quarantine.

Updated 17:31 EAT, April 3, 2020

• The government has managed to test 362 samples in the last 24 hours. From these, 12 (11 Kenyans and 1 Somali national) people have tested positive for COVID-19. The number of those infected with COVID-19 in Kenya is now 122.
• Another person has died from COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total number of deaths to 4 people. The patient was a 6-year-old child that was ailing from other medical conditions. The child was admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.
• The Ministry of Health, in partnership with other government agencies, has so far monitored 1,721 contacts. Out of this, 1,073 have been discharged while they are tracing 648.
• The government has started manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) for distribution to the public.

Updated 16:21 EAT, April 2, 2020

• Kenya’s situation is getting worse as the government has confirmed 29 (28 Kenyans and 1 Congolese) more positive cases of COVID-19. Currently, the total number of those who have been infected is 110. These new cases were discovered from 662 samples tested in the past 24 hours.
• The Health Cabinet Secretary has also announced the unfortunate demise of two patients that were infected with COVID-19. One of them hails from Nairobi and the other from Mombasa. Therefore, Kenya’s total death is 3 people.
• The Deputy Governor of Kilifi County placed under mandatory quarantine has fully recovered. However, he will be charged for exposing Kenyans to COVID-19.
• The Ministry of Health has directed that all people using public transport (tuk-tuks and matatus) including drivers and passengers to wear protective masks at all times.
• The government has instructed the hiring of 5,000 skilled health workers to start immediately. The Ministry of Health is looking to have a team of at least 6,000 health workers to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated 19:09 EAT, April 1,2020

• The Health Cabinet Secretary has announced 22 more cases (18 Kenyans, 2 Pakistani nationals, and 2 Cameroonians) of COVID-19 in Kenya. These new cases bring the total number of those infected to 81. The government discovered these new positive cases from tests carried out on over 300 Kenyans.
• Mutahi Kagwe further reiterated that Kenyans ought to prepare for stiffer measures as the number of positive cases is growing.

Updated 18:09 EAT, March 31,2020

• The Ministry of Health has confirmed 9 more positive COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total to 59. These were discovered from 234 samples analysed from various centres all over the country.
• Currently, the government is continuously monitoring 1,668 close contacts. 508 have already been discharged after completing the 14-follow-up period. The remaining 1,160 close contacts of confirmed cases are closely monitored.
• The government is exploring various options, including the usage of different boarding schools as isolation centres in case the situation worsens. The Ministry of Health is working with various County Governments to identify these boarding schools.

Updated 16:09 EAT, March 30,2020

• The government has announced 8 more COVID-19 cases in Kenya, bringing the country's total to 50. Out of 172 samples collected, only 84 have been successfully analysed, resulting in 1 positive case. The Ministry of health also tested 88 close contacts from the 42 current cases and confirmed 6. The final additional case is from the Agha Khan Hospital.
• The new 8 cases have added Kitui to the list of affected regions. Nairobi has 6 more, while Mombasa has 1 new case. The Ministry of Health is currently monitoring 1,211 close contacts and tested 1,005 persons for COVID-19 in Kenya.
• The government has established new directives for bodaboda operators to help in curbing the spread of COVID-19. These are:

• Following the curfew imposed on Friday, 27 March 2020, the government has urged employers to release employees at 4:00 pm.
• The Ministry of Health has issued a travel advisory against travelling upcountry for people living in Nairobi.

Updated 18:30 EAT, March 29, 2020

• The Ministry of Health, through various centres, has analyzed 69 more samples. Out of this, 4 (1 Kenyan citizen and 3 foreigners) have been confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. This brings Kenya’s total to 42.
• According to Mutahi Kagwe’s latest announcement on COVID-19 cases in Kenya, Nairobi has the most significant number of cases at 31. Kilifi county has 6 confirmed cases, Mombasa 3 while Kajiado and Kwale counties have 1 each.
• The government has increased the number of close contacts that they are monitoring to 1, 426. 215 have been discharged after completing the 14-day mandatory quarantine and follow-up period. 18 people are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital waiting for test results.
• Medical teams under the Ministry of Health have embarked on mass testing for all those individuals that have come into the country from last week. They will be tested according to the arrival dates.

Updated 17:30 EAT, March 28, 2020

• The government, through the Ministry of Health, has analysed 81 samples from suspected cases of COVID-19 in various laboratories in Kenya. Out of this, 7 cases (4 Kenyans, 2 Congolese nationals and 1 Chinese) have been confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 bringing Kenya’s total to 38 people. Nairobi County now leads with 28 cases, Kilifi 6, Mombasa 2 while Kajiado and Kwale have 1 each.
• Contract tracing has ensued for the 38 cases, and the government has located 1, 141 close contacts that they are monitoring. 163 have already been discharged after the 14-day follow-up period, and the other 978 are being closely monitored. 3 have been admitted at Mbagathi Hosptial awaiting test results. The Ministry of Health has already tested 833 individuals for COVID -19.

Updated 18:30 EAT, March 27, 2020

• The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mutahi Kagwe, has confirmed that 2 patients, out of the 31 COVID-19 cases in Kenya, are in the Intensive Care Unit at the Agha Khan Hospital. One is a French national, and the other a Kenyan citizen.
• A South African national quarantined in Nakuru has passed on in unclear circumstances, not directly related to COVID-19. The government has stated that the matter is under investigation and further information will be availed upon successful findings.
• Since March 26, 2020, the government, through designated centres, has tested 156 samples from suspected COVID-19 cases. All these samples have tested negative maintaining the number of all confirmed cases to 31 (19 male and 12 female).
• According to the Ministry of Health, they have traced 1,067 people that have been in close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. 136 people out of these discovered individuals have been released after completing the mandatory quarantine and observation period. 931 close contacts are being monitored, and 5 people are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital waiting for test results.
• The Ministry of Health has announced that they will start mass testing of more than 2,000 individuals that arrived in the country from March 22, 2020.

Updated 18:27 EAT, March 26, 2020

• The Ministry of Health has announced 3 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total to 31. These were realized from samples of 74 cases that were tested at various centres across the country. All the Kenyan cases are from five counties which are Kajiado, Nairobi, Kwale, Mombasa, and Kilifi.
• Kenya has recorded its first death from COVID-19. The patient was a 66-year-old male Kenyan citizen that had been admitted at the Agha Khan Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
• According to the CAS, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, contact tracing has identified 1,029 people that were in close contact with confirmed cases. 123 people have been discharged after completing the 14-day follow-up period. The contact tracing team is now monitoring 906 close contacts. Additionally, 18 individuals are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital awaiting tests.
• More than 2000 people that arrived in the country from Monday, March 23, 2020, have been placed under mandatory quarantine. They are supposed to be tested under WHO guidelines.

Updated 18:30 EAT, March 25, 2020

• The President of Kenya has announced 3 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the nation’s total to 28. He also stated that the government had registered the first fully recovered patient.
• The government has also announced certain reliefs towards protecting Kenyan citizen’s income. This is through an increase in disposable income through the following measures:

• Additionally, the National Security Council of Kenya has imposed a 7 pm to 5 am curfew all over the country from Friday, March 27, 2020.
• The government has directed Ksh.1 billion from the Universal Health Coverage kitty be disbursed towards the recruitment of health workers curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya.
• State and public officers with pre-existing medical conditions or those that have attained 50 years and above (Job group S and below or equivalent) have been ordered to take leave.
• In a move to reduce the economic effect of COVID-19, the government has lowered the Central Bank Rate to 7.2%. This action is meant to prompt commercial banks to extend affordable loans to citizens during these tough financial times.

Updated 17:30 EAT, March 24, 2020

• The Ministry of Health has announced 9 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Kenya. This announcement brings the total of those infected to 25. These latest cases were confirmed from the 82 samples that were tested in various designated health centres in Kenya. These are the National Influenza Centre, KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) Nairobi, KEMRI Welcome Trust Kilifi, and The Agha Khan Hospital.
• The latest COVD-19 confirmed cases are spread out in Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa counties. Out of the 9 confirmed cases, 7 are Kenyans while two are foreign nationals.
• The government is still making great effort to trace individuals that were in contact with these confirmed cases. So far, they have been monitoring 745 contacts. 98 have been discharged after completing the 14-day isolation and follow-up period. Only 647 are being closely monitored while 15 are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital.
• The government has received 25, 000 COVID-19 testing kits from Chinese businessman Jack Ma. The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health during his address to the nation extended the country’s gratitude.

Updated 19:00 EAT, March 23, 2020

• The government has confirmed one more positive COVID-19 case. This finding brings the total confirmed cases to 16. The patient was in close contact with one of the 8 cases reported on Sunday, March 22, 2020.
• The Ministry of Health, together with county governments, has traced 646 individuals that were in close contact with confirmed cases. 96 of these people have been released from the follow-up program after completing 14 days quarantine while 550 remain. 11 of these are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital, waiting for test results.
• The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, has announced measures to cushion the current challenging working scenario for citizens. This is through a partnership between Telkom Kenya and Google to facilitate more comfortable and faster internet access. This service will be available through Google loon.

Updated 17:37 EAT, March 22, 2020

• The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health has confirmed 8 more people are infected with COVID-19, making the total to 15. From the latest 8 cases, five are Kenyans, and 3 are foreigners (2 French and 1 Mexican). These are imported cases from Europe and America. The youngest is 20-years old while the oldest is 57-years-old. Globally, there are 266,073 confirmed cases and 11,000 deaths.
• The government, through the Ministry of Health, is tracing 363 individuals that may have come into contact with these positive cases. However, 3 individuals are awaiting processing at Mbagathi Hospital isolation unit. Others have been processed and discharged.
• According to the Ministry of Health, all patients, except the one at Msambweni, Coast Province, are in stable condition. The government is making preparations to airlift the patient to Nairobi.
• The government has suspended all international flights effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Only cargo flights will be allowed to operate.
• All people coming to Kenya will undergo a mandatory quarantine at a government-designated quarantine facility at their expense. Anyone violating of the self-quarantine directive will be forcibly quarantined (for fourteen days) and after that arrested and charged according to the Public Health Act.
• The Ministry of Health has reinforced further measures to curb COVID-19 spread by closing all bars effective March 22, 2020 midnight. However, restaurants operate only for take away services.
• All church, mosque, funerals and other social gatherings have been suspended. Funerals have been restricted to immediate family members only.

Updated 19:00 EAT, March 20, 2020

• The Cabinet Secretary for Health has stated that they are monitoring 7 COVID-19 cases after successful contact tracing. The government has released 44 individuals after the expiry of the required isolation period. However, 4 more cases have been admitted at the Mbagathi Hospital isolation unit. 1 tested negative and 3 are awaiting results.
• The National Emergency Response Committee, after a comprehensive meeting, has resolved to apply different measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
• According to the Ministry of Health, all bars and entertainment joints are supposed to close by 7:30 pm every day until further notice. This is effective Monday, March 23, 2020.
• The government has directed that every entertainment facility ought to confirm the maximum number of persons at any given time. This is to ascertain that they abide by the 1.5m social distance directive for curbing the spread of COVID-19. These entertainment joints have been encouraged to facilitate home delivery mechanisms.
• Supermarkets have been directed to limit all shoppers in their premises. Also, they ought to establish a system of managing queues outside their centres. Shopping is restricted to one person at a time; family shopping is highly discouraged.
• County governments have been advised to prioritize garbage collection and cleanliness of all market centres.
• The government has issued a directive for all 14-seater matatus to carry a maximum of 8 passengers, 25-seater a maximum of 15, and 30-seaters and above to maintain a 60% capacity. The rule also applies to the train system.

Updated 19:00 EAT, March 19, 2020

• The government is conducting contact tracing, having already contacted 145 people that were in contact with people that tested positive for COVID-19.
• So far, over 600,000 people have been screened at various entry points in Kenya while 173 have been tested for COVID-19. Out of these, only seven have been confirmed positive and are showing positive recovery.
• The government, through the Ministry of Health, has invoked Nyumba Kumi to aid in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
• The Ministry of Health will embark on random screening at targeted regions starting Saturday, March 21, 2020. The entire exercise will be coordinated by the Ministry and will involve the Red Cross, security personnel and other stakeholders.
• More Ebola champions have been included in the team responsible for COVID-19 response interventions.
• Public health officials have started a disinfection drive in certain areas of the city. The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health has urged other counties to follow suit.

Updated 12:30 EAT, March 18, 2020

• The Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe, through a press briefing, confirmed three more Coronavirus cases. The new findings bring the total number to seven in Kenya.
• Among the three cases, two are a couple that travelled from Madrid, Spain on March 4, 2020, through Dubai and arrived in Kenya on March 5, 2020. The third case is of a Burundian national that travelled from Dubai to Kenya on March 17, 2020.
• The government has confirmed that there are 18 cases currently under review at Mbagathi Isolation Centre. Seven have been screened and proved to be negative and discharged to self-quarantine at home. The other 11 suspected cases are being tested at the designated laboratories in Kenya.

Updated 18:30 EAT, March 17, 2020

• Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health has confirmed another case of COVID-19 bringing the total to four. The patient travelled from London, United Kingdom on March 8, 2020, and arrived in Kenya on March 9, 2020.
• Twenty-three people who had come into contact with the first confirmed cases of Coronavirus have tested negative and have been released from the hospital. They have been advised to self-quarantine as a precaution.

Updated 19:21 EAT, March 16, 2020

• The government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna has stated that on top of the three confirmed cases, the other three are awaiting confirmation of results and 14 are in quarantine.
• The Kenyan National Emergency Response Team has set up measures to respond to COVID-19 by enhancing county facilities positively. Thirty-five counties have confirmed that they have established the necessary quarantine and isolation facilities.
• The government has embarked on a training exercise in all 47 counties on preventive measures for COVID-19.
• Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital has joined other selected health facilities as an isolation and treatment centre.

Updated 11:00 EAT, March 16, 2020

• Kenya has confirmed two more coronavirus cases bringing the number to three. The President, making a statement at Harambee house stated that the patients are isolated at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
• All people (27) that came into contact with patient zero have been tested for COVID-19 symptoms.
• The government has suspended all travels into Kenya for people coming from countries affected with COVID-19.
• Only Kenyan citizens and foreigners with valid work permits will be allowed entry provided they agree to self-quarantine and take all necessary measures. The directive will last for thirty days.
• Learning institutions in Kenya have been closed down to prevent further spread of COVID-19. All primary and secondary day schools are to suspend operations from March 16, 2020. Boarding schools have been directed to ascertain that all students are home by March 18, 2020. Universities and tertiary institutions are to be closed down by Friday, March 20, 2020.
• The government has encouraged businesses and government offices to allow employees to work from home where possible.
• The Kenyan Judiciary has reduced court activities for two weeks starting March 16, 2020, as they seek an appropriate response to the current stringent measures. They have suspended all conferences, workshops, and training programs.

Updated 17:00 EAT, March 13, 2020

• A female Kenyan citizen has been confirmed as the first Coronavirus patient in Kenya. She had travelled from the United States of America to Kenya via London.
• The Kenyan government has invoked the Public Health Act and instituted specific directives to prevent further infection.
• The government has banned all travels for public servants to counties affected by COVID-19 and also restricted non-essential trips.

The first case of COVID-19 in Kenya: how did it happen?

According to the Health CS's (Cabinet Secretary) statement, the person arrived in the country on March 5, 2020. The patient is currently undergoing COVID-19 treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital’s Infectious Disease Unit and is stable with a good appetite.

The 27-year-old took herself to the medical facility after she started feeling unwell. On arrival at the National Influenza laboratory at the Infectious Disease Unit, she was tested for the COVID-19 virus. Her test results were positive.

The Health Cabinet Secretary applauded her bravery and responsibility for taking prompt action upon experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The government has stated that it has facilitated a comprehensive contact tracing to locate everyone that has been in contact with the patient since arrival.

READ ALSO: Kenya records first coronavirus case

COVID-19 updates: government measures

The confirmation of the first case has elevated measures put in place. Public servants have been banned from non-essential travels to countries that have been affected by COVID-19. Also, the public has been urged to avoid non-essential journeys according to the recent Kenya COVID-19 updates.

The Health Cabinet Secretary has also suspended public gatherings and stopped all inter-school events. All level 4 and 5 hospitals in Kenya have been advised to create an isolation ward that will be funded by the Ministry of Health and the World Bank.

CS Kagwe invoked the Public Health Act and has instituted specific measures:

• Regularly wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
• Keep a distance of five feet from someone that is coughing or sneezing.
• Everyone experiencing a cough or sneeze ought to avoid mixing with other individuals in a crowd.
• People should cover their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing using a handkerchief, tissue, or flexed elbow.
• Anyone that is feeling unwell with symptoms of cough, fever, and challenges breathing should self-quarantine at home.
• All public gatherings like meetings, crusades, and events that attract a high crowd have been suspended.
• Public transporters have been advised to provide hand sanitizers to their riders.
• All prison visits have been suspended.

READ ALSO: Stay at home if you feel unwell - Health CS warns after first case of Coronavirus

Now that there is COVID-19 in Kenya, people are expected to abide by the strict measures put in place to prevent more infections and contain the virus. Numerous nations have been facing an uphill battle trying to contain the spread, many complaining about a lack of resources.

Financial markets have toppled and in Kenya, the Nairobi Securities Exchange is continuing to face very low numbers. The first Coronavirus case in Kenya is a wake-up call to Kenyans to upgrade their hygiene if they want to prevent infections.

DISCLAIMER: All the information contained in this article is not implied or intended to be a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content including text, images, graphics, and information contained on or available through this page is for general information purposes.

READ ALSO:

• Coronavirus: Government bans public servants from non-essential foreign trips
• Coronavirus in Kenya: 5 quick things to do to prevent spread of virus
• Mikutano ya BBI yaahirishwa baada ya Coronavirus kufika Kenya

Source: TUKO.co.ke

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