Kenya's Covid-19 Cases to Hit 10,000 by End of April, Government Says

The number of coronavirus cases in Kenya is projected to hit 10,000 by the end of April 2020, according to the Health Ministry.

In a media briefing on Monday, the ministry’s Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said they expect to have about 1,000 infections in the first week of April and 5,000 in mid-April.

“We postulate that we could have 1,000 cases by the first week of April, 5,000 by mid-April and 10,000 by end of April,” said Amoth.

More than 2,000 people who are presently under quarantine in different facilities are yet to be tested. Amoth said the government can only test 300 samples in a day at the moment but they are working to increase the capacity.

“We are working to ensure Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) comes up by end if this week,” he added.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health announced the confirmation of eight new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total tally to 50. Six of the cases were recorded in Nairobi while Mombasa and Kitui registered one each.

Nairobi County has the highest cases with 37 followed by Kilifi (6), Mombasa (4), while Kajiado, Kwale, and Kitui have one case each.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the virus is no longer being imported from abroad.

“This means the virus is now being spread through community transmission and it calls for more personal responsibility,” CS Kagwe said.