Drop in Coronavirus cases as country records 98 new infections

Noah Cheploen @cheploennoah

The country yesterday recorded a significant drop in new Coronavirus cases after only 98 people tested positive from 3, 369 samples conducted in the last 24 hours.

Data released by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe yesterday puts the number of confirmed cases at 98,432 from some 1,097, 647 cumulative tests so far.

From the cases, 87 are Kenyans while 11 are foreigners, 63 are males and 35 females,” Kagwe said, adding that the youngest is a three-year old baby while the oldest is 85 years.

Unlike two months ago where the positivity rate was standing at a record 22 per cent, yesterday it had dropped to below five per cent.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a country is deemed to have flattened the curve if it records a positivity rate of below five per cent for at least 14 days.

Nairobi, which contributes more than half of the national caseload, leads with 49 new cases followed by Mombasa (14), Uasin Gishu (eight), Kiambu (four), Kwale (three), Nakuru (three) while Bungoma, Kisii, Kisumu, Turkana and Machakos reported two cases each.

The number of recoveries has risen to 81, 255 after 154 more patients were discharged: 144 from home-based care and 10 from various health facilities.

At the same time, three more patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the number of fatalities to 1,716. “Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost their loved ones,” Kagwe said.

There are 696 patients currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide.