Covid-19 Indian Variant Lands In Kenya, 5 Cases Detected

The deadly Indian variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Kenya days after Kenya suspended flights from India for 14 days. Health Ministry’s Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said the 5 cases were detected in Kisumu.

The announcement on the India variant was made days after the country eased restrictions imposed in March when a high infection rate was reported.

“Indian variant, yes, this variant has been picked in Kenya and because of global connectivity, it is just a question of time. You cannot be able to place barriers to prevent a virus from accessing your territory,” Amoth said.

At the same time, 489 people have tested positive for the disease, from a sample size of 4,426 tested in the last 24 hours. Our positivity rate is at 11.0%. From the cases, 449 are Kenyans while 40 are foreigners. Total confirmed positive cases are now 161,393 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,692,532.

552 patients have recovered from the disease, 303 from various health facilities countrywide while 249 are from Home Based & Isolation Care. Total recoveries now stand at 109,769 of which 79,774 are from Home Based Care & Isolation while 29,995 are from various health facilities.

20 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, 11 on diverse dates within the last one month, and 9 being late death reports from facility record audits. This now pushes cumulative fatalities to 2,825.

1,164 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 6,603 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care.  153 patients are in the ICU, 28 of whom are on ventilatory support and 99 on supplemental oxygen. 26 patients are on observation.