This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, Kenya has lost 197 lives to the disease as of July 13. The number of deaths has been steadily rising since the first confirmed fatality on March 28.
According to the Ministry of Health, 48 Kenyans have lost their lives to the disease since the beginning of July. The number of positive cases has also risen to 10,294 as of yesterday.
Men are disproportionately affected by the virus, with 76% of the deaths being male and 24% female. The mortality rate in Kenya stands at 1.9%, lower than the global average of 4.9% as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged those with pre-existing conditions to take extra care during this global pandemic. He has also highlighted the leading cause of fatal cases of Covid-19 as diabetes, with most of the fatalities occurring among those with pre-existing conditions.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 15% of Kenyan households have a member who is ailing from diabetes, while a further 18.5% have a member with pre-existing medical conditions.
Mr. Kagwe has emphasized the importance of taking extra precaution for those with pre-existing conditions, saying, “People suffering from these diseases are more vulnerable to contracting the virus and are therefore advised to take extra precaution.”
As the country mourns the loss of its loved ones, the Health Ministry continues to urge the general populace to take the measures put in place seriously to prevent further spread of the disease.
