Kagwe: Rise in fatalities calls for a relook into COVID-19 measures

Ministry of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has raised concerns over the alarming rise in number of Covid-19 infections and fatalities in the country. 

During an update on the virus situation in the country on Monday in Malindi, Kilifi County, the CS addressed the press emphasizing that Kenyans have a major role to play in combating the virus. 

According to Kagwe, further escalation can only be avoided if the country relooks Covid-19 measures. 

He said, "We cannot afford to have over 100 deaths in a week. There is a need to relook at measures to contain the virus."

From a sample of 5,085 collected in the last 24 hours, there are 724 new cases recorded as per the report of the CS. 

“100 deaths reported last week. This is the highest number we have ever registered. It has been the worst week since Covid-19 struck the country in March, Kagwe asserted. 

Nevertheless, he congratulated the county government of Kilifi for its investment in the health sector.

The CS reiterated, “We have managed to overcome the first wave. We now have another wave which requires us to be more vigilant.”

According to him, reports that hospitals have been overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases are misguiding the public. 

"What people are talking about is Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, and maybe MP Shah Hospital which have been overwhelmed...they usually have little bed capacity in terms of infectious disease cases," Kagwe said. 

He asked county governments to increase the capacity of their hospitals asserting that there will be no movement of patients from one county to the other. 

The CS also encouraged families to engage in discussions and patient care training when a member gets infected with the virus.