This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On July 10, 2020, the Ministry of Health revealed the costs associated with managing COVID-19 patients in Kenya. According to the Ministry, the daily cost for asymptomatic patients is Ksh. 21,300.
MOH Director General Patrick Amoth stated that for patients with slight symptoms, such as a mild cough or difficulty breathing, the cost increases to Ksh. 21,400 per day.
However, patients requiring supplementary oxygen due to severe COVID-19 are cared for at a cost of Ksh. 51,000 per day. Dr. Amoth noted that those requiring ICU critical care support, including intubation and ventilatory support, incur a daily cost of Ksh. 71,000.
Dr. Amoth emphasized that the high costs surrounding COVID-19 patient care are the reason behind promoting home-based care measures in Kenya.
During a press briefing, Dr. Amoth also announced that 292 Kenyan health workers have contracted the coronavirus, with 160 females and 132 males affected. He attributed the high number of female nurses contracting the virus to their role in caring for COVID-19 patients in isolation centers.
Dr. Amoth further stated that aside from the doctor who succumbed to the disease, the other health workers are recovering well. Dr. Doreen Lugaliki, a doctor who died from COVID-19, was among eight people who lost their lives to the disease in the last 24 hours.
As of July 10, 2020, Kenya had reported 9,448 cases of coronavirus, with 2,734 recoveries and 181 deaths.
