This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On Tuesday, Kenya confirmed 45 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number of infections reported in a single day. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 535.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the new cases were confirmed after tests conducted in the last 24 hours. He attributed the surge in cases to the government's mass testing initiative in Nairobi's Kawangware, Eastleigh, and Mombasa County, which started last week.
Eastleigh, a neighborhood in Nairobi, recorded the highest number of cases with 29 positive cases reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections from the area to 63. Kawangware and Mombasa Old Town were also identified as hotspots with 24 and 39 cases respectively.
CS Kagwe warned that the trend of community spreading in these areas will not be reversed if Kenyans continue to disobey regulations from the Ministry of Health. He also revealed that the government will announce new measures later this week to address the surge in cases.
"We have the highest number today and that shows how serious this pandemic is in our country," CS Kagwe said, emphasizing the need for Kenyans to adhere to health guidelines.
