Kenya is grappling with an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases and the highest number of deaths recorded in 2021, while patients in intensive care remain over 100 and hospital overcrowding is a concern.
Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe released data on Thursday1 8 March that reported 1,225 new positive cases in the country, out of 7,308 swabs analysed, with an infection rate per swab of 16.8%.
At the same time, Kagwe announced that 17 patients died from the disease during the same period, pushing the cumulative mortality to 1,954. As mentioned, this is the highest daily number of Covid-19 deaths in 2021.
The total number of confirmed positive cases now stands at 117,053. There have been 1,394,748 total tests conducted to date. Of the cases in the last 24 hours, 1,166 are Kenyan nationals while 59 are foreigners. Meanwhile, 142 patients have recovered from the disease. The total number of recoveries now stands at 89,203.
There are currently 793 patients currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in various health facilities across the country, while 2,250 patients are in isolation and home care.
114 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 28 of them with ventilatory support and 81 with supplementary oxygen. 8 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
5 patients are on observation. Another 38 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 30 of them in general wards.
In terms of positives within individual counties Nairobi as always holds the majority with 731 people. Then Kiambu 197, Machakos 53, Mombasa 41, Nakuru 31, Uasin-Gishu 30, Nyeri 27, Kajiado 23, Garissa 11, Meru 8, Nyandarua 8, Kilifi 7, Laikipia 6, Busia 6, Kirinyaga 6, Makueni 6, Kakamega 5, Kisii 4, Lamu 3, Bungoma 3, Taita Taveta 3, Kisumu 3, Baringo 2, Murang'a 2, Nandi 2, Narok 2, Tharaka Nithi 1, Trans Nzoia 1, Elgeyo Marakwet 1, Embu 1 and Wajir 1.