This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
According to a recent study by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), Central and parts of Eastern Kenya may be at a higher risk of experiencing severe Covid-19 disease and deaths.
The study, which assessed the vulnerability of each of the 295 sub-counties in the country to the Covid-19 pandemic, found that the region has a large elderly population and high rates of hypertension and smoking.
Eastern region has the highest rate of smokers at almost 30 per cent, followed by Central Kenya. Counties with the highest smoking prevalence in Eastern Kenya include Meru, Isiolo, Kitui, Embu, and Kirinyaga.
Other areas at risk of severe disease and fatalities, the study says, are parts of Western Kenya that experience high rates of HIV infections.
Counties in Northern Kenya, the study notes, will experience a heavy spread of the disease due to poor health infrastructure and low awareness.
However, the authors suggest that the disease in these counties will be less severe.
The study recommends that counties facing both poverty-related vulnerabilities and high rates of comorbidity receive priority attention.
Based on the assessment, the 10 counties that should receive priority attention include Mombasa, Lamu, Nyeri, Embu, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Siaya, Makueni, and Nakuru.
