12 more coronavirus cases confirmed thus far, bringing Kenya’s total to 246

Kenya, as of Friday, April 17 – in the morning – had registered 12 new coronavirus cases discovered in 450 samples tested between Thursday and Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced.

Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday morning where he and his Cabinet colleagues Fred Matiang’i (Interior) and James Macharia (Transport) had gone to receive a consignment of critical medical equipment and personal protective equipment, Kagwe said five of the 12 new infections were confirmed among hotel workers.

Four others contracted the disease after coming into contact with previously confirmed cases.

“Normally, I would make this announcement at around 3pm when we would have received test results of all samples. Today (Friday, April 17), because of this particular conference, we won’t be having another press briefing. As we stand right now, at this hour, we have already tested about 450 samples, out of which, we have already received 12 confirmations of positive cases of COVID-19, and the day has not ended yet,” said Kagwe.

The minister, however, did not reveal other demographic details of the new infections.

Yesterday (Thursday, April 16), Kenya confirmed that nine more people had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of those infected at the time to 234.

Making the announcement in his address to the nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday said that the number of recoveries remained 53 as had been announced by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe earlier.

But the number of deaths rose to 11 with the country remaining with 179 active coronavirus cases.

President Kenyatta said that the new patients were among 704 people who were tested in the last 24 hours.

The Head of State also announced that nearly 1,000 people were under quarantine while scores more were in isolation facilities.