Coronavirus: Kenya Covid-19 cases rise by 30 , total now 465 Nairobi Sunday May 3, 2020

The results were released by the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS)Dr. Rashid Amanwho disclosed that 19 cases are from Mombasa, 8 from Nairobi, 2 from Bungoma and one from Kitui, aged between 4 years and 64 years, of which23 are males and 7 females.

Bungoma is the latest County to be affected by the virus bringing to 16 the total number of Counties that have so far recorded Covid-19 cases.

“What this means is that the disease is spreading across the country and within the estates,”Dr. Rashid said and urged people in thetargetedareas to go for testing.

In Nairobi, Kawangware has two cases, Eastleigh five and Kibera has one.In Mombasa, Mvita has a record of 15 cases, Kisauni has three, and Likoni one.Othersare Kitui, which has one case from Mwingi town and Bungoma County has two cases from truck drivers.

On apositiveDr. Rashid disclosed that 15patientshave recovered and hav beendischargedfrom varioushospital. “Unfortunatelywelost two more patients from Mombasa,” he said.

He also lamented that despite thegovernment’sefforts in ensuring targeted testing is done in high risk areas as part of the measures to control the disease, a low turnout of people going for the testing is dragging the process.

The CAShighlighted that the outcome of the testing exercise has shown a very low turnout in some areas. “In the last two days, the testing teams have tested 803 against a target of 2000 in Kawangware, 494 in Eastleigh against a target of 3000,” he noted andappealed to Kenyans especially those in the hotspot areas to willingly come forward to be tested for the country to flatten the curve and minimize the risk of transmission.

He reminded Kenyans that there are countries where people beg to be tested, yet their governments are unable to do so.“The Ministry of Health has acquired the testing capacity to undertake targeted testing, but the willingness to be tested is low,’ he re-emphasised.

He also announced that NERC has directed theInspector General to designate a place for curfew offenders where social distancing requirement can beobserved andcautioned mosques that have revisedprayer time and are now opening for prayers at night during this month of Ramadhan.

“All religious leaders are advised to stop this practice forthwith, failure of which legal action will be takenagainstthem in accordance with Public Health Act,” he said.

The CAS also warned the hoteliers, matatus and bodaboda operators who have gone back to their normal ways andurgedthem toabide by the containment measures inplace.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha clarified that schools will still remain closed for the next one month despite calls and rumours that they will reopen for second term.

“As I have alluded earlier a lot of things will determine whether we open schools and we are discussing at the NERC meetings,” he said and noted that going by the ongoing facts on Covid, children should stay at home and if there was any pronouncement on any matter of education, it will be communicated at the right time.

“It is disturbing to hear that parents and the public are thinking of opening schools and issues of fees. This is a medical crisis it’s not economic, and we must control the medical crisis first,” Prof. Magoha said.

He also emphasized that Kenyans should stop pretending like the disease is a Kenyan thing but should know it is worldwide warning that our culture is going to get us where we do not want to go and our behavioural might lead us to doomsday.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc globally with the current global Covid-19 disease situation standing at 3,018, 952, out of which 207,973 have died. In Africa, the confirmed cases stand 23,254, and fatalities are 903.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.