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Bernard Gitau @benagitau

At least 57 new cases of coronavirus were reported yesterday, with Mvita and Kibra in Nairobi emerging as the new hot spots.

Out of the 35 cases reported in Mombasa, Mvita recorded 22 cases while Kibra had nine cases out of the 17 reported in Nairobi. 

Kibra, Old Town, Eastleigh and Kawangware estates have been under government mass testing for Covid-19.

Breaking from the past in which Health Cabinet Secretary and other senior government officials update Kenyans live, yesterday’s announcement was made through a press statement from Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna.

The 57 cases reported yesterday bring the number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 887. A total of 2, 198 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

“Today’s Covid-19 figures demonstrate that the disease is still within our midst and the infection curve is yet to flatten,” said Oguna.

Observe measures

He urged Kenyans to continue observing the measures advocated to flatten the curve.

Other estates in Mombasa, which registered Covid-19 cases are Likoni (four), Changamwe (three) Nyali (three), Kisauni (two) and Jomvu (one).

In Nairobi two cases were reported at mandatory quarantine centres while two were reported in Eastleigh. Aga Khan Hospital, Kamulu, Dandora and Pangani have one case each.

Kwale has one case in Msambweni, Kitui (one) in Mwingi, while three cases in Kajiado are from Kajiado Central (two) and (one) in Kajado North.

Oguna said another 12 individuals tested positive, all being Tanzanian truck drivers.

“Eleven at Lunga Lunga border and one at Taveta border and were all referred back to Tanzania,” he said.

The new cases in the last 24 hours is the highest to be announced by the government but fortunately no death was reported where 12 more recovered.

“In the last 24 hours, our surveillance and case management team tested 2,198 samples where 57 tested positive for Covid-19 bringing the total number being 43,712,” said Oguna.

Twelve patients were discharged from hospital bringing the total number discharged to 313 while those that have succumbed to the disease remain at 50.

Out of 57, 34 are males while 23 are females with the youngest being 2-years-old and the oldest 61 years.

On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a 21-day extension of the country’s nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew as the number of new  Covid-19 infections continues to increase.

The President also extended a ban on travel into and out of Nairobi metropolitan area, the counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Mandera to the June 6, 2020, the same date the curfew is expected to end.

“The whole world is walking through the valley of the shadow of death,” Uhuru said as he urged Kenyans to remain vigilant against the disease.

The President also closed the Somalia and Tanzania border but allowed the movement of cargo trucks whose drivers must undergo testing.

The measures come after a total of 43 cases crossed into Kenya from Somalia and Tanzania.

Out of these, 14 crossed the border at Wajir, Namanga (16), Isebania (10), Lunga Lunga (two) and one from the Loitoktok border point.

The President said 78 truck drivers who are foreign nationals tested positive for the disease.

Border movement

Cross border movement has been termed as the weak link in fight against the spread of coronavirus.

Uhuru said his government would continue to take every measure to protect the lives of Kenyans from the pandemic and to plan for the recovery of our economy.

The government of Kenya is in the process of installing mobile covid-19 testing labs to boost mass testing.

Meanwhile, Oguna said it was important to appreciate the country was battling other health conditions that continues to pose health challenges in the world.

“Such conditions include hypertension. Today, we are observing the World Hypertension Day, celebrated each year on May 17.

The condition can be managed and treated through lifestyle modifications and medication,” said Oguna.