Numbers are numbers, as we have been saying for some time, and they do not say much, especially if they are official figures provided by politicians we have to trust.
But 688 new cases of positivity at Covid-19 out of 4522 swabs analyzed in the last 24 hours until the afternoon of Saturday, July 18 make report a new negative record for Kenya.
The total number of infections in the country has thus risen to 12,750 and the cases still active are 8,085, of which more than half (7298) in Nairobi, which has no more beds in hospitals. Fortunately, many patients are declared cured and discharged every day and others, asymptomatic and with the possibility of isolation, are sent home to be followed at home by the Coronavirus emergency staff. Yesterday, 457 were considered cured, 56 of whom were hospitalized and 401 were already at home.
Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe was in Embu County yesterday to monitor the progress of work in the local health facilities, as he is doing county by county on a daily basis.
Fortunately, there are still few deaths. Yesterday, 3 were commemorated. The number of deaths in the country thus rises to 225.
Cases in terms of age continue to fluctuate from children just a few months old to the elderly 90 and older. More and more males than females and 90% of the deaths are people with previous illnesses.
In the last 24 hours analyzed Nairobi is still by far the County with the most cases, 537 cases, Kiambu (which is actually a suburb of the Capital) 59, Machakos 20, Mombasa 18, Busia 15, Kajiado 14, Kilifi 5 (all in the quarantine center of Rabai), Laikipia 5, Meru 4, Tana River 2, Uasin Gishu 2, Nakuru 2, Bungoma, Isiolo, Makueni, Migori and Narok 1 only case.
"By now we agree that we will only be saved if we cooperate with each other - said Kagwe - protecting each other. Take responsibility for saving your mother, your father or a friend."
In the meantime, Embu County has also been promoted with full marks by the Government for meeting the standards required for the treatment and prevention of Covid-19.
The County has provided 360 beds and 18 intensive care units.