Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday, May 18 announced that the Covid-19 virus positivity rate in the country stands at 7.5% as Kisumu leads in new infection cases.

From a sample size of 6,244, 469 people tested positive in the last 24 hours raising the total cases of infection in the country rose to 166,006 with Kisumu county leading in the number of positive cases at 102.

In a statement to news rooms, MOH stated that 363 of the new infections are Kenyans while 106 are foreigners. 280 are male while 189 are female. 

In terms of new cases of infection by counties, Nairobi followed Kisumu with 77 cases, Mombasa 27, Kericho 27, Siaya 18, Busia 18, Meru 17, Kisii 16, Nyeri 14, Kitui 13, Nyamira 12, Kilifi 12, Nandi 11, Uasin Gishu 10, Turkana 9, Bungoma 8, Makueni 8, Kakamega 7, Kiambu 7,

Nakuru 6, Homa Bay 6, Murang’a 5, Embu 4, Laikipia 4, Machakos 4, Vihiga 4, Taita Taveta 3, Bomet 3, Kajiado 3, Trans Nzoia 3, West Pokot 3, Kirinyaga 2, Migori 2, Tharaka Nithi 2, Isiolo 1 and Marsabit 1.

In Mombasa, the 27 cases are from Mvita (12), Jomvu (6), Kisauni and Nyali (4) cases each and Changamwe (1). In Kericho, the 27 cases are from Ainamoi (16), Belgut (9) and Kipkelion East (2).

In Siaya, the 18 cases are from Alego-Usonga (12), Bondo (3), Rarieda (2), Ugenya (1). In Busia, the 18 cases are from Matayos (12), Teso North (5) and Teso South (1).

In Meru, the 17 cases are from Buuri (8), Imenti North (3), Imenti South and Tigania West (2) cases each, Imenti Central and Tigania East (1) case each. In Kisii, the 16 cases are from Kitutu Chache North (5), Nyaribari Chache (4), South Mugirango (3), Bonchari and Kitutu Chache South (2) cases each.

In Nyeri, the 14 cases are from Mathira East (4), Nyeri Central, Nyeri South and Tetu (3) cases each and Mukurweini (1). In Kitui, the 13 cases are from Kitui South (5), Kitui Central and Kitui West (3) cases each and Kitui Rural (2).

MOH further revealed that 1,039 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 4,714 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care.  

108 patients are in the ICU, 22 of whom are on ventilatory support and 71 on supplemental oxygen. 15 patients are under observation.

8 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, 3 of them having occurred on diverse dates within the last one month while 5 are from reports of facility audit records conducted in the last one month. This now pushes the cumulative fatalities to 3,021.