This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
Published on July 6, 2020, Kenya recorded 309 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 7,886. The spike in cases has dampened hopes of reopening the economy.
Containment measures imposed a month ago are set to expire on July 6, with President Uhuru Kenyatta expected to address the nation. The measures have been in place to curb the spread of the virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, the 309 new cases represent 7.6% of the 4,028 tests conducted across 37 counties. Nairobi reported the highest number of cases with 193, followed by Kajiado, Kiambu, Mombasa, Makueni, and Busia.
Ministry of Health Chief Administrative Secretary, Rashid Aman, attributed the continued spread of the virus to the lack of adherence to measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and ensuring hygiene.
“The growing number of positive cases indicates that the containment measures are not fully adhered to. We have observed that many of our people are going about their everyday activities as if we are in normal times,” said Dr. Aman.
He also noted that there have been cases of illegal gatherings and transport operators have resumed their old ways of doing business.
As the government tries to contain the spread of the virus, the economy has taken a beating due to measures such as the curfew, travel restrictions, and the ban on domestic and international travel.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Kenya's economy will shrink for the first time in 30 years by 0.3% in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
