This archive report was first published on 18 December 2021.
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 18, 2021 - Kenya's Ministry of Health has confirmed the existence of 9 Omicron lineages, with 27 out of 34 tested samples matched to the variant.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the samples were collected between November 23 and December 7, 2021.
“Twenty-seven sequences (77 per cent) were confirmed to belong to the newly identified Omicron variant of concern. Two individuals with the Omicron variant had recently traveled from South Africa and Ghana and the rest had no recent international travel history,” Kagwe said.
Kenya confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant on December 15, with three cases reported from three travelers from South Africa; two Kenyans, and a South African national.
Health CS Kagwe appealed to Kenyans to get inoculated to curb the spread of the virus, as nations across the world remain divided on whether or not to impose lockdowns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States have insisted that the Omicron variant is less deadly compared to its predecessor, delta.
Kenya's Ministry of Health revealed it will not recommend a lockdown, instead calling on Kenyans to be vaccinated to cushion themselves against adverse effects of the virus.
“I want to encourage Kenyans who are yet to be vaccinated to do so and EVERYONE including those already vaccinated to adhere to hand washing, social distancing and other Ministry of Health containment guidelines,” Kagwe said.
Kenya reported 2,169 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 262,335. The national positivity rate was reported at 23 per cent.
