President Uhuru Hints At Easing Lockdown As COVID-19 Cases Hit 2,021

Kenya currently has 2,021 COVID-19 cases and concern is rising on the implications of ease on lockdown as hinted on by President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday during the Madaraka celebrations.

The country hit 2,021 cases after an additional 59 people tested positive for the viral disease in 1,518 samples tested in 24 hours.

Kenya is reportedly likely to be having a worse total caseload if the majority were to taken through testing as since the country reported its COVID-19 case, only 80,054 samples have been tested.

The 59 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases that saw Kenya’s number of COVID-19 cases rise to 2,021 is spread out as follows:

Nairobi-29

Mombasa-14

Turkana-6

Busia- 4

Taita Taveta-2

Kajiado -2

Kiambu -1

Kilifi -1

The COVID-19 cases reported in Nairobi yesterday, Madaraka day, eased on Lang’ata constituency while Westlands and Ruaraka overtook in the number of cases.

The distribution of the COVID-19 cases is as follows in Nairobi:

Ruaraka -8 (Quarantine centers)

Westlands -6

Dagoretti North-4

Lang’ata -4

Kibra -3

Embakasi West -1

Kasarani -1

Kamkunji -1

Makadara-1

In Mombasa county the 14 COVID-19 cases confirmed yesterday, Madaraka day are as follows:

Mvita -6

Kisuini -2

Nyali -2

Jomvu -2

Changamwe -2

In Turkana County, all the 6 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Madaraka day are from Nadapal Point OF Entry while the one Kiambu case is from Thika.

The 59 COVID-19 cases announced on Madaraka day are 24 females and 35 males and all range between 10 years or the youngest and 76 years for the eldest.

Ever since Kenya reported its first COVID-19 case on 13th March 2020, men have been the majority of the positive cases.

Kenya also added to its number of COVID-19 recoveries to 482 after 8 more patients tested negative twice hence being discharged and declared COVID-19 free though they are still prone to getting re-infected if exposed again.

While speaking during the celebrations for Madaraka (Freedom) Day, President Uhuru Kenyatta said he would issue more guidelines in the coming days with Kenyans wondering whether that would include easing of the lockdowns or tightening them.

“I have directed the Ministry of Education to fast-track and finalize the ongoing consultations with the stakeholders that will provide an appropriate calendar for a gradual resumption of education in the country,” President Uhuru said.

President Uhuru’s statement on reopening of schools came as a surprise to many as the schools closed when the country had only reported one case and it fails to make sense to many that they be reopened when the country is reporting more than 2000 COVID-19 cases.

“I direct the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health to continue and hasten their engagement with religious leaders; with the objective of developing protocols that will be adopted to guide a more participatory way of worship while guaranteeing the safety of worshipers,” Uhuru added to the surprise of many.

How the government intends to reopen the economy while the number of COVID-19 cases is rising by the day and the kind of effect it is going to have remains to be seen.

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