Kenya confirms 51 more cases as Kagwe warns infections rising

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 19 May, 2020 16:10 | < 1 min read
Kagwe
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. PHOTO | SCREENGRAB
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. PHOTO | SCREENGRAB

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has warned that Covid-19 cases have been spiking in the country with infections hitting 963 after 51 more people tested positive.

Announcing the Covid-19 results on Tuesday, Health CS Kagwe said that they tested 1,933 samples in the last 24 hours.

On a positive note, CS Kagwe said that the number of fatalities remained constant at 50.

Based on the distribution of deaths, CS Kagwe said that Mombasa leads with 27 fatalities trailed by Nairobi.

"We should make it clear that the rising deaths in Mombasa is as a result of people dying at home," said Mr. Kagwe.

While lauding Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for the containment measures that he has put in place, CS Kagwe urged the locals to refrain from taking care of sick people at home.

The CS also defended the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to close the Kenya-Tanzania border, saying that 182 out of the 214 Covid-19 cases detected on the border with Tanzania are foreigners.

He revealed that a mobile laboratory has been deployed to the Tanzania border to aid in improving the testing amid escalating tensions with the neighbouring country.

During the briefing, East Africa CS, Adan Mohamed, assured traders that the government is engaging with neighbouring countries to ensure the unrestricted movement of cargo across borders.

CS Mohamed denied claims that Kenyan trucks have been blocked from entering Tanzania in wake of President Kenyatta's order to close the border to the movement of people.