COVID-19 Update for Kenya April 17, 2020

This week the Kenya Ministry of Health announced expanded testing capacity for COVID-19 across Kenya including at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). 

As of Friday, April 17, there were 246 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country and 11 people had died as a result of the coronavirus. The Ministry of Health reports that 53 people have recovered.

Domestic production and international donations have increased the availability of needed supplies including swabs and viral transport medium, extraction kits, medical disposable protective clothing, ventilation machines, thermometer guns and medical gloves. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta also announced support for counties’ response to the coronavirus crisis specifically to cushion the most vulnerable people and to protect healthcare workers. The Government of Kenya is now requiring everyone to wear a face mask when out in public.

Educational COVID-19 posters have been distributed in English and Swahili. The Kenyan government continues their campaign to promote social distancing as an effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19. This technique includes:

·      Working from home instead of office

·      Visiting friends and family electronically instead of in person

·      Avoiding being within six feet of others and crowded public spaces.

Graphic: Kenya Ministry of Health