This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
On July 18, 2020, Kenya recorded a record high of 688 cases of Covid-19 in a single day, bringing the country's total number of confirmed cases to 12,750.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the new cases during a tour of Embu County, where he also reported three more deaths and 457 recoveries.
Of the recovered patients, 401 were under home-based care, while 56 were in hospital. The death toll now stands at 225, with a total of 4,440 recoveries.
CS Kagwe further announced that Tana River had become the 44th of 47 counties to record a case of the virus.
Kenya's number of coronavirus cases has been increasing steadily following the reopening of county borders.
The ministry noted that many people have disregarded basic measures for preventing the spread of Covid-19, including wearing masks in public.
CS Kagwe reiterated the need for personal responsibility, asking members of the public to 'save each other'.
He discouraged inter-county travel and social gatherings, noting it is better to stay away.
Regarding political gatherings, he said, 'When a politician calls a public gathering, you have a choice - to go there or not. Take personal responsibility. Don't go there. You don't have to be there.'
Officials from the Health ministry visited Embu to assess the county's preparedness to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.
CS Kagwe noted that county visits are helping the government to identify gaps in healthcare, make investments, and meet and honour frontline health workers.
Embu has 360 isolation beds, more than the government's minimum of 330, as well as 18 beds for patients in intensive care units.
