Kenya coronavirus cases hit 320, recoveries steadily rising

The case count has reached 320 as of April 23 after 17 new cases were recorded over the last 24-hours.

All 17 were Kenyan citizens. A dozen from Mombasa and the remaining from Nairobi.

Meanwhile, recoveries received a boost as six new discharges brought the tally to 89. Fatalities remain at 14 with active cases at 217. Kenya’s overall test count stands at 15,792 according to Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi.

Nairobi county maintained its unassailable lead with 211 cases whiles Mombasa climbed to 79. Kilifi, Mandera and Kwale complete the list of partially locked down counties with 9, 8 and 1 case respectively.

Kajiado, Kitui, Nakuru, Siaya, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu and Homabay complete the list of infected counties.

Meanwhile, the weatherman is cautioning that rains will intensify in parts of the country. The rains and attendant flooding are an added headache to humanitarian efforts bedeviling the country. A locust invasion is the other.

A weather alert said the rains and attendant flood risk was going to impact the wider East, Horn of Africa region: Exceptionally high rainfall from 21-26 April is expected in Djibouti, southeastern Ethiopia, Kenya, southern Somalia, northwestern Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

All risk mitigation measures need to be activated, the alert noted.

Mandera County has been placed on lockdown by Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i citing escalation of community based infections and classification of the county as an infected area.

The measure includes: cessation of movement by air and road in and out of the country for an initial 21 days starting 7pm (local time) April 22, 2020.

“Further, His Excellency the President has directed the National Command Center on the Coronavirus Pandemic to immediately review the enforcement of public health measures rolled out to stem the growing rate of infection in the counties of Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi with a view to introducing more stringent measures to enhance the enforcement of the same.”

The results of that review is expected in the next 48-hours, a statement signed by Matiang’i added. The case count has meanwhile passed 300 reaching 304 today after seven nationals tested positive in the last 24-hours.