Kenya confirms 23 new COVID-19 deaths, over 800 cases

ANKARA (AA) - Kenya's Ministry of Health reported 23 new coronavirus-related deaths Wednesday and 834 new infections after conducting 8,498 tests.

The figures bring the number of deaths to 2,688 and the confirmed infections to 158,326 after conducting 1,659,506 tests since 2020 in the East African nation of almost 55 million, according to the ministry that cited the National Environment Response Committee on Coronavirus.

The newly infected are aged between 14 days old to 100 years, and include 805 Kenyans and 29 foreigners, the ministry added.

While 1,300 infected patients are currently admitted to health care facilities, 579 recoveries from the virus were confirmed with the number of recoveries at 107,882.

The ministry said 853,081 people have been vaccinated in the nation’s vaccination campaign.

The Kenya Council of Governors said on Tuesday that Kenyans who have been vaccinated are no longer observing mitigation measures and expressed concern about rising infections.

Health Committee chairman Anyang’ Nyong’o said the counties of Nakuru, Kakamega, Meru, Uasin Gishu, Murang’a, Nyeri and Kisumu have reported a rise in infections, overwhelming the health system.

The situation has pushed governors to urge every resident to adhere to the mitigation measures such as social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands in fighting the virus, as the country is experiencing a third wave of the virus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on March 26 restrictions on movement into and out of the capital, Nairobi, and four counties.