Corona Virus

276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averages 13pc

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:50:02 +0000

276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averages 13pc admin Mon, 10/26/2020 - 19:50

Monday, October 26, 2020

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276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averag…

NAIROBI, Kenya October 26 – The health ministry announced 276 more coronavirus cases on Monday picked from 2,162 samples analyzed over a period of 24 hours.

This represents a 12.98 per cent positivity rate with the five-day mean standing at 13.1 per cent, a figure that is almost triple the five per cent threshold stipulated by the World Health Organisation.

The new figure brings to 49,997 the total reported cases out of the 662,046 cumulative tests conducted since March.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, through a statement sent to newsrooms also announced that eighteen patients had succumbed to coronavirus raising the national death tally to 920.

Kagwe said that there are ninety-two patients who are on emergency care including twenty patients under Intensive Care Unit (ICU), fifty-two on supplementary oxygen and twenty on High Dependency Unit.

The Ministry of Health noted that 220 more patients were cleared including 150 who were under Home-Based Care Program and seventy who were discharged from various hospitals.

The the total number of patients who have been cleared after recovering from the virus since April 1 rose to 34, 429.

Another 1,191 patients were said to be hospital-based care while 1, 406 were being monitored under the home-based care protocol.

The new cases reported include a two-year old baby and are distributed among 179 males and 97 females.

Mombasa, Machakos and Nairobi accounted for the highest cases with 71, 58 and 50 cases respectively while Kilifi and Busia followed with 21 cases each.

Other cases were distributed in Kwale (19), Kajiado(13), Garissa (6), Nakuru (5), Narok(4), Makueni(3), Kiambu(3), Taita Taveta(1) and Tharaka Nithi (1).

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UN chief in self-isolation after contact with COVID-positive person

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:50:01 +0000

UN chief in self-isolation after contact with COVID-positive person

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 07:50

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

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UN chief in self-isolation after contact with COVID-positive person

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been in self-isolation after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, said Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman.

“He has shown no symptoms and has initially tested negative. Out of an abundance of caution, he has canceled all his engagements and he will work from home until he is tested on Thursday, Dec. 9,” Haq wrote in a note to the UN press corps on Tuesday. The secretary-general was originally scheduled to participate in a high-level event for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund on Wednesday and was expected to speak at Thursday’s open debate of the Security Council on security in the context of terrorism and climate change. His scheduled attendance as a guest of honor at an annual gala of the UN Correspondents Association in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday night is also affected. Guterres, 72, was among the first New York residents to get vaccinated with his first shot in late January 2021 and a second one later on. He received a booster on Nov. 26.

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Regional disease control collaborating centre to be based in Nairobi unveiled

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 10:50:01 +0000

Regional disease control collaborating centre to be based in Nairobi unveiled

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 10:50

Friday, October 1, 2021

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Regional disease control collaborating centre to be based in Nairobi unveiled

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 1 – Regional health officials have officially unveiled the Eastern Africa Regional Collaborating Centre (EA-RCC) in a move aimed at stepping up the fight against emerging and re-emerging disease threats in the region.

The centre to be based in Kenya has been operating within the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC) framework with an objective to ensure effective preparedness and response to current public health threats in the context of COVID 19 and beyond.

Speaking in Nairobi during the event, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe expressed optimism that the centre will strengthen the capacity, capabilities and partnerships of Africa’s public health institutions to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks in the continent.

“The opportunity to collaborate in disease control is something we have been looking forward to doing and I believe the center will have a positive impact not just in the region or our continent but also the world at large,” he said.

The Health CS appealed for cooperation between member states covered by each of the centers and the centers themselves saying it would enable collaboration across the entire continent.

“As we know, challenges affecting different countries on the continent, regardless of the regions they may be in, could very well manifest themselves in other countries in the different regions, hence the need to ensure collaboration is escalated beyond a region as may be necessary,” said Kagwe.

The new center which will be based in Kenya seeks to ensure effective preparedness and response to current public health threats in the context of COVID 19 and beyond/MoH

Kagwe said that there was need for collaboration to ensure quality information and data at all levels to ensure that all public health decisions are guided by evidence-based policies and guidelines.

He further stated that he hoped Africa CDC and EA-RCC will continue to offer a platform for networking public health assets in the region and also interlinking centers of excellence to strengthen knowledge management and public health practices.

The Health CS further noted that the outbreak of coronavirus in March 2020 had resulted to the rise in health and economic challenges in the continent, adding there was need for early disease detection and prevention to avoid a repeat of the same.

“COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a stark illustration of how the undetected transmission of pathogens across borders can quickly transform a local disease outbreak into a regional health emergency or even a global crisis. The current situation underscores the importance of strengthening regional disease surveillance systems and emergency-response capabilities across the continent,” he said.

Kagwe further said that there was a growing pressure on governments and regional bodies to safeguard the health of Africa and the world adding that policies must be put in place to ensure that continental institutions can swiftly detect and effectively address disease outbreaks anywhere before they become a threat everywhere.

He added that regional laboratory that will also be established will undertake genomic sequencing to better understand diseases with multiple variants such COVID-19.

“Besides, I expect that the center will also collaborate with our other research institutions including the Kenya Medical Research Institute, The Kenya Institute of Primate Research and all other research bodies whose work will be complimentary to that of the regional collaboration center. It should also act as a reference and referral laboratory for the region. At the center of all these efforts is the ultimate goal of ensuring we approach seeking solutions to our health challenges differently, together,” he said.

African Union Commission representative Amira Elfadil who also spoke at the event lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for the strides the country had made in the health sector.

She thanked all the stakeholders and partners in the region including IGAD, WHO and COMESA for their role in ensuring the success of the newly unveiled center and addressing health challenged in the region.

Elfadil said the RCC has supported several initiatives in the East Africa Region since its establishment including the establishment of a functioning office in Nairobi and has supported the member states in Covid-19 preparedness and response.

Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong said that there was need to redesign the health security apparatus locally, regionally and globally.

He added that COVID-19 outbreak had shown the need for the region to enforce laboratory networks and commit to strengthening health systems.

EA-RCC coordinates Africa CDC partnerships and activities in the 14 Member States in the Eastern Africa Region and has been involved in strengthening surveillance and laboratory systems and public health communications in the region.

The official unveiling of EA-RCC brought together officials from Tanzania, Uganda,Djibouti, Rwanda, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, Eritrea and Ethiopia, some of whom attended the event virtually.

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Kenya COVID cases top 106,125 ahead of vaccines arrival

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:20:01 +0000

Kenya COVID cases top 106,125 ahead of vaccines arrival

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admin Mon, 03/01/2021 - 18:20

Monday, March 1, 2021

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Kenya – Capital News

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Kenya COVID cases top 106,125 ahead of vaccines arrival

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1- Kenya recorded 152 new COVID-19 infections Monday, raising cases in the country to 106,125 ahead of vaccines arrival.

The country was expected to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday to start vaccinating healthcare workers and others on the frontline like security forces.

“We expect vaccines on Tuesday,” said Mutahi Kagwe, Health Cabinet Secretary who urged the public to remain vigilant and observe protocols issued by the ministry.

“It doesn’t mean that we should now lower the guard because the vaccine is coming,” he warned, “the world does not have enough vaccine for every one.

Kenya hs so far conducted 1,301, 051 tests since March last year when the first case was reported in the country.

The virus has killed 1,859 people so far.

The much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine will be administered free of charge in all public health facilities, with arrivals expected on Tuesday.

About 16 million people will be vaccinated by end of the year to suppress the virus with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

Of the 16 million, more than 1 million health care workers and essential providers will be among the first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In phase two of the vaccination, which is set to kick off in July and end in June 2022, 9.7 million Kenyans will be vaccinated.

The Cabinet has since ratified a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the first batch of the vaccines expected into the country within the first week of March.

The Cabinet, during its first sitting this year, resolved that the first group to be vaccinated will include health care workers and frontline workers among them security personnel and teachers, vulnerable persons and those in working in the hospitality industry.

Also, as part of the country’s response to the disease, the Cabinet sanctioned heightened surveillance at all of Kenya’s international borders, so as to stem the propagation of the disease into the country.

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine will arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021. In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office read.

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S.Africa to ease virus restrictions after ‘dramatic decline’

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:10:01 +0000

S.Africa to ease virus restrictions after ‘dramatic decline’

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admin Mon, 03/01/2021 - 12:10

Monday, March 1, 2021

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Africa – Capital News

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S.Africa to ease virus restrictions after ‘dramatic decline’

Johannesburg, South Africa, March 1 – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said the country will start relaxing coronavirus restrictions, moving from alert level three down to level one, after a “dramatic decline” in infections.

The easing of the measures, due to begin at midnight, will see most economic activity resume as the country moves to rebuild its virus-shattered economy.

In a televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa said the country had made big strides in the past eight weeks, recording a steady drop in infections and hospital admissions.

“Due to the decline in infections, the country can now ease some of the restrictions on movement and economic activity,” Ramaphosa announced.

“We do so cautiously,” he added.

Ramaphosa said the country had recorded just under 10,000 new infections over the past week, down from more than 40,000 in the last week of January and some 90,000 in the same week in December.

He attributed the “dramatic decline” to the public health measures, changes in behaviour, and accumulating immunity in those that had become infected.

Under level one restrictions, the country’s curfew will now only run from midnight to 4am.

The head of state spoke a day after the country received the second batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccines arrived in the country.

So far, more than 63,600 healthcare workers have been vaccinated since the country began inoculations nearly a fortnight ago.

The elderly, teachers, miners, police officers, soldiers, civil servants and people older than 18 with co-morbidities will be vaccinated in the next phase of the three-phase rollout campaign from the end of April.

The government, which has been accused of being slow to acquire Covid vaccines, has secured an agreement to procure 11 million one-shot doses from Johnson & Johnson, 2.8 million of which are expected in the second quarter.

Twenty million Pfizer jabs have also been secured, while an additional 12 million doses expected via the COVAX facility, according to Ramaphosa.

Having recorded more than 1.5 million infections of which nearly 50,000 have been fatal, South Africa still has the highest number of cases and deaths on the continent.

It aims to inoculate around 40 million people — 67 percent of the population — by the end of 2021.

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COVID-19 vaccine expected in Kenya Tuesday

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 17:40:01 +0000

COVID-19 vaccine expected in Kenya Tuesday

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admin Sun, 02/28/2021 - 17:40

Sunday, February 28, 2021

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COVID-19 vaccine expected in Kenya Tuesday

[Additional reporting by Njoki Kihiu in Nairobi].

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 28 – Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Sunday that the much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the country on Tuesday even as 325 new infections were recorded.

The new cases were detected from a sample size of 3,282 raising the total caseload in the country to 105, 973.

“We are hoping Tuesday or Wednesday morning that the first batch of the vaccine will arrive in the country and after that, the rest will follow. We are expecting 10. 9 million doses as of next week,” Kagwe told journalists in Nyeri.

He said healthcare workers who are on the frontline in the fight against the virus will be the first ones to be vaccinated.

Kagwe further said 2 COVID-19 patients had succumbed to the virus, pushing fatalities to 1,856.

However, 69 patients were discharged after recovering from the virus bringing the total recoveries to 86,678.

The Cabinet on Thursday ratified a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

The Cabinet during its first sitting this year resolved that the first group to be vaccinated will include health care workers and frontline workers among them security personnel and teachers, vulnerable persons and those in working in the hospitality industry.

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine will arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021.In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office stated.

The Government has assured that the vaccine will be administered free of charge in all public health facilities.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi said recently that the Ministry will also come up with a mechanism of regulating the vaccine cost in private health facilities.

“the vaccine will be free in public facilities, there are discussions to ensure there will be a mechanism of regulating cost at the private sector,” said Mwangangi Friday, during a virtual session with medics ahead of the vaccine roll out once it arrives later February.

Mwangangi said the vaccine will be administered voluntarily, with plans to intensify public sensitization.

“As an individual, I will be on the front-line to receive the vaccine, there will be no victimization and the vaccine will be given to those willing,” she said.

The government said about 16 million people will be vaccinated by the end of the year to suppress the virus with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

In phase two of the vaccination, which is set to kick off in July and end in June 2022, 9.7 million Kenyans will be vaccinated.

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COVID positivity rate at 3.2pc, single fatality reported since Friday

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 17:00:01 +0000

COVID positivity rate at 3.2pc, single fatality reported since Friday

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admin Sat, 02/27/2021 - 17:00

Saturday, February 27, 2021

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COVID positivity rate at 3.2pc, single fatality reported since Friday

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 – Kenya recorded 181 COVID-19 cases on Saturday marking a 3.2 per cent positivity rate compared to 5 per cent reported on Friday and 6 per cent on Thursday.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the new cases were identified from 5, 577 samples which were tested from Friday.

Kenya has so far conducted 1, 295, 556 tests since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

Nairobi County produced the majority of the new infections after posting 104 cases followed by Kiambu which had 20 cases.

CS Kagwe added that 88 patients have been cleared of the virus bringing the total number of recoveries to 86, 609 cases.

One patient has succumbed to the virus raising he country’s fatalities to 1, 854.

The much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine will be administered free of charge in all public health facilities, with arrivals expected from next week.

About 16 million people will be vaccinated by end of the year to suppress the virus with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

Of the 16 million, more than 1 million health care workers and essential providers will be among the first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In phase two of the vaccination, which is set to kick off in July and end in June 2022, 9.7 million Kenyans will be vaccinated.

On Thursday, the Cabinet ratified a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the first batch of the vaccines expected into the country within the first week of March.

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine will arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021.In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office read.

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6 COVID-related deaths reported, virus positivity rate stands at 5.7pc

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:20:01 +0000

6 COVID-related deaths reported, virus positivity rate stands at 5.7pc

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admin Fri, 02/26/2021 - 16:20

Friday, February 26, 2021

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Kenya – Capital News

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 – The Ministry of Health on Friday reported 410 new COVID-19 cases detected from 7,180 samples.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe pointed out that 368 of the new cases were reported among Kenyans while 42 were foreigners among them 276 males and 134 females.

The CS further said that a year-old and an 83-year-old were among the new cases.

He announced that 6 more patients had succumbed to the virus, raising fatalities to 1,853.

However, 24 patients were discharged after recovering from the virus bringing the total number of recoveries to 86,521.

He also said 342 COVID-19 patients were still admitted in various health facilities in the country, among them 61 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 25 on ventilatory support and 29 on supplemental oxygen.

The much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine will be administered free of charge in all public health facilities, with arrivals expected from next week.

About 16 million people will be vaccinated by end of the year to suppress the virus with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

Of the 16 million, more than 1 million health care workers and essential providers will be among the first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In phase two of the vaccination, which is set to kick off in July and end in June 2022, 9.7 million Kenyans will be vaccinated.

On Thursday, the Cabinet ratified a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the first batch of the vaccines expected into the country within the first week of March.

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine will arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021.In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office read.

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Cabinet ratifies coronavirus vaccine distribution plan

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:10:01 +0000

Cabinet ratifies coronavirus vaccine distribution plan

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admin Fri, 02/26/2021 - 10:10

Friday, February 26, 2021

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Kenya – Capital News

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Cabinet ratifies coronavirus vaccine distribution plan

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 – The Cabinet on Thursday ratified a COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the first batch of the vaccines expected into the country within the first week of March.

The Cabinet during its first sitting this year, resolved that the first group to be vaccinated will include health care workers and frontline workers among them security personnel and teachers, vulnerable persons and those in working in the hospitality industry.

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine will arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021.In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office read.

The government on Saturday announced that COVID-19 vaccine will be administered free of charge in all public health facilities.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi said the Ministry of Health will also come up with a mechanism of regulating the vaccine cost in private health facilities.

Mwangangi said the vaccine will be administered voluntarily with plans to intensify public sensitization.

The government plans to vaccinate 16 million people by end of the year to suppress the virus with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

More than 1 million health care workers and essential providers will be among the first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In phase two of the vaccination, which is set to kick off in July and end in June 2022, 9.7 million Kenyans will be vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health said it had recommended the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for clearance by World Health Organization for importation to Kenya.

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China donates 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Sierra Leone

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:10:01 +0000

China donates 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Sierra Leone

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admin Fri, 02/26/2021 - 10:10

Friday, February 26, 2021

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Africa – Capital News

Original Article

China donates 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone Feb 25 – Sierra Leone on Thursday received a consignment of 200,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China to support the country’s vaccination campaign.

Health authorities in Sierra Leone said the vaccine will “play an important role in preventing and containing the COVID-19 in the country.”

According to the authorities, the vaccine comes at a time when the Sierra Leone government is planning to vaccinate about 1.6 million vulnerable people.

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Hu Zhangliang said that “we are supporting Sierra Leone with the COVID-19 vaccine at a time when countries around the world are struggling to have the vaccine.”

Hu called on the Sierra Leonean authorities to put the precious vaccine into good use to save the nation from the COVID-19.

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Foreign Minister Solomon Jamiru expressed his government’s appreciation to China for helping Sierra Leone fight against the pandemic and assured that they will continue to work with the Chinese medical teams to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

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