Health DG Dr. Amoth reveals number of COVID-19 positive healthcare workers in Kenya

The Acting Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth says 33 healthcare workers in Kenya have so far tested positive for COVID-19, representing 4.6 per cent of the country’s 715 coronavirus infections registered thus far.

In his weekly Question and Answer (Q&A) session held on Twitter every Wednesday dubbed 'Ask the DG' (#AskTheDG), Dr Amoth said despite the 33 healthcare workers contracting the virus, he is confident in the training the Ministry of Health has given to the frontline employees handling suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.

A Twitter user, Lisa Owino, whose handle is @LisaOwino9, asked the Health DG: “@DrPatrickAmoth, how many healthcare workers have contracted the virus, and how many have recovered?”

In response to Lisa’s question, Dr Amoth said: “33 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, we have not lost any healthcare worker to the pandemic.”

Still on healthcare workers’ welfare, another Twitter user, John Mukulo (@johnmukulo) expressed concern about the high COVID-19 death rate in Mombasa, and asked Dr. Amoth whether the skyrocketing fatalities could be as a result of healthcare workers in Mombasa being poorly trained on how to handle critically-ill COVID-19 patients.

“Mombasa COVID-19 patients are dying at a higher rate than any other part of Kenya. Can it be attributed to incompetence of the medics on how they are handling the coronavirus patients?” posed Mukulo.

In response, Dr Amoth said: “More than 35, 000 healthcare workers have been sensitised and trained on COVID-19 management and capacity building remains ongoing.”

Another user by the name Deed (@__deed) was interested in knowing how many of the 715 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kenya were asymptomatic.

In response, Dr Amoth said: “77% (551) of our (715) cases are asymptomatic.”

Another user, Collins Orono (@collins_orono1) wanted to know how many minors have been confirmed to have contracted the disease so far.

“What is the exact number of children (between 0-18 years old) have been infected with COVID-19?” he asked.

“Sixty five (65) out of 715 cases (9 per cent) have been between 0-18 years and 1 fatality,” replied Dr Amoth.

Orono, thereafter, followed up his question with another, asking the Health DG how babies, who have been confirmed to be COVID-19 positive, are looked after while in quarantine.

“Babies are not separated from their mothers. We only enhance infection prevention measures to avoid cross infection. i.e sanitizing, handwashing and wearing masks,” responded Dr Amoth.

Another online user, Morvanreed Onoka (@McOnoka), asked the DG to reveal whether there is any death arising specifically from COVID-19 without any underlying medical conditions contributing to the fatality.

“All deaths in the country (36 of them) were persons who had underlying medical conditions,” revealed Dr Amoth.

Another user, Kimantau (@Kimtau6), on the other hand, wanted to know if Kenya has recorded any COVID-19 reinfection from any of its 259 recovered patients.

“We have no documented case of re-infection at the moment,” said the DG for Health.

Another user Peter Muriba (@PeterOptom) tasked Dr Amoth to explain why the deaths arising from COVID-19 were higher in Mombasa than any other part of Kenya.

“Why is the number of deaths arising from COVID-19 in Mombasa higher than those recorded in Nairobi? Posed Muriba.

“Most deaths reported in Mombasa, unfortunately, had underlying conditions, but also they majorly happened at household levels which points to poor health-seeking behaviour. There is need to seek medical advice whenever one feels unwell,” replied Dr Amoth.

Kennedy Otinga (@Habawesty) wondered: “Who foots the medical bill of critically-ill COVID-19 patients? There is one patient [I know of] whose medical bill has accumulated to over Ksh7 million.”

In response, Dr Amoth said: “The government has committed itself to settle bills for those in government-designated quarantine facilities. Regarding the patient [whose medical bill has accumulated to over Ksh7 million], kindly share more details of the patient with us.”

Another user, Nelson Kimathi (@nelsonkimathi) theorised that the cold weather could be catalysing the spread of coronavirus, and, therefore, asked the DG for Health whether such a belief holds any water.

“Kindly comment on the emerging issue that COVID-19 is seasonal, and that it is more prevalent in cold seasons. In Kenya, we are entering a cold season June-July-early August, what is your plan, if that [school of thought] is true?” posed Kimathi.

In his reply, Dr Amoth said: “This is not yet a scientifically verified opinion yet. Neither has World Health Organization published any guidance on the same.”