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The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday dashed Kenyans hopes that coronavirus infections could be decreasing following the low numbers recorded in the county in the last few days.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Rashid Aman said it is still too early to conclude that the coronavirus curve has flattened despite a reduction in reported cases.

This came after only 271 people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours from a sample size of 4,019 bringing the total number of positives to  30,636.

In his daily briefings, Aman said the positivity rate is still the same as flattening of the curve is dependent on certain key indictors like the number of people in hospitals and deaths reported.

“It is too early to determine if curve is coming down, we will wait and see. Our tests fluctuate, when we have enough testing kits and supplies we are able to up our testing.

The number of cases are affected by the size of the samples collected and in the last few days the number of samples has come down due to limitations in our supply chain,” said Dr Aman during the daily updates.

Fatalities

For the third day running, the number of new cases has been less than 300.

From the cases, 267 were Kenyans and four were foreigners, with the youngest being an year old baby and the oldest was 80 years old.

Another 208 patients recovered from the disease, 166 of which were from the home-based programme while 42 were discharged from various hospitals.

Dr Aman said the total number of recoveries rose to 17,368.

However, five more patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the fatalities to 487.

Dr Aman reiterated the need to strict observance of containment measures saying recent trends indicate that infections are soaring among young people and infants.

“We need to make our message neutral. That this pandemic is a threat to everybody. Before we focused on the elderly but let’s emphasise that this disease is a threat to everybody,” said the CAS.

Aman spoke from Kenya Medical Training School  (KMTC) in Karen, where he also received donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (ICAD) towards the fight against the pandemic.

“The KMTC board as availed resources to enable its 71 campuses countrywide to conduct health education and promotion, donate hand washing facilities and provide mental health and psychological support to mitigate the effects of coronavirus,” said Dr Aman.

IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu presented the donations.

Dr Aman said the donation will go a long way in assisting healthcare workers at Dadaab Refugee Camp in Garissa.

The 271 new cases were spread out in Nairobi 99, Kiambu 20, Laikipia 20, Migori 18, Uasin Gishu 18, Busia 12, Lamu 11, Samburu 11, Turkana 10, Kajiado nine, Makueni four, Garissa four, Nakuru four, Mombasa three, Machakos three, Muranga three, Kisumu three, Kilifi three, Taita Taveta 3, Tana River three, Nandi two, Nyeri two, Marsabit two, Kirinyaga one, Vihiga one, Embu one and Kitui one.