![Dr. Doreen Lugaliki died of COVID-19 at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on Thursday, July 9. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]](https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kagwe.jpg?resize=730%2C414&ssl=1)
Kenya registered the highest number of COVID-19 infections confirmed within 24 hours on Friday, July 10, after 473 persons tested positive for the contagion, bringing to 9, 448 the total number of coronavirus cases in the country.
The 473 cases were discovered in 6, 979 samples tested between Thursday and Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced while addressing journalists in Kilifi.
Three hundred and twenty four (324) of the 473 new infections were registered among male patients, whereas 149 were recorded among female carriers.
The youngest new patient is 1 year old, whereas the oldest is 90 years old.
The country also posted high death numbers after eight people, including a medical healthcare worker, succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours. Kenya’s COVID-19 death toll now stands at 181.
Seventy six (76) more patients recovered from the disease, pushing the total number of recoveries to 2, 733.
Kenya has thus far tested 206, 584 samples for COVID-19.
With 5, 188 cases, Nairobi County leads in the number of COVID-19 infections in Kenya, followed by Mombasa, which has posted 1, 720 ailments. Kilifi County, which hosted the CS on Friday, has 71 cases, out of which, 45 have already been treated and discharged. Kilifi is at Position Ten among counties affected by the crisis.
At the beginning of his speech, CS Kagwe urged Government officials and journalists present at the press briefing to observe a minute of silence for deceased medical doctor, Doreen Lugaliki, who succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday, July 9, at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.
“She (Dr. Lugaliki) contracted the virus while saving others who had caught the disease,” said the minister.
“On behalf of the Government, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to her family. I say pole pole sana. I have spoken to her father and two sisters. I want to say it is a sad day for our healthcare workers,” said CS Kagwe, who, thereafter, asked attendees of the event to observe a one-minute silence in honour of Dr. Lugaliki.
The obstetrician-gynaecologist, 38, had been admitted at the Aga Khan University Hospital after she developed complications on Monday night (July 6).
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) announced their colleague’s demise on Facebook on Friday, July 10.
“We have lost a hard-working obstetrician/gynecologist, a mother, a friend and a colleague to the devastating effects of Covid-19. Our condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Doreen Lugaliki,” said KMPDU on their official Facebook page.
Dr. Lugaliki, who was described as “extremely professional and nice” by some of her patients, was attached to Nairobi South Hospital.
Dr. Mercy Korir, who is also a TV presenter at KTN, described Dr. Doreen Lugaliki as a “young doctor who had so much to offer”.
“We have lost one of our own as a doctors’ fraternity to COVID-19. A young doctor with so much to offer,” tweeted Dr. Korir on Friday.
Dr. Lugaliki becomes the first healthcare worker to die of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health on July 1 said 186 health workers had tested positive for coronavirus and that none had died from the virus at the time.
