First COVID-19 Case Confirmed in Eldoret

This week the first case of COVID-19 in Eldoret was confirmed by Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). The patient is reportedly stable under the care of MTRH and contract tracing is being coordinated with Uasin Gishu County Disease Surveillance Team. According to MTRH CEO, Dr. Wilson Aruasa, over 105,000 individual screenings have been completed at MTRH using the Ministry of Health case definition over the last few weeks and out of 24 tests completed, this is the first positive result.

Overall in Kenya, as of Friday, April 10, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose to 189 and seven deaths have been attributed to the disease. Twenty-two patients are reported to have recovered. 

At MTRH, one isolation ward at Memorial has been completed and others will be completed shortly. Radiologists have received COVID-19 training and standard operating procedures have been approved by the CEO.

While the majority of cases continue to be in Nairobi, cases of COVID-19 are now confirmed in 14 of Kenya’s counties. The Government of Kenya has enforced travel restrictions into and out of the Nairobi metropolitan area as well as parts of Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties along the coast. The nationwide curfew continues. 

Additionally, the Government of Kenya advised all Kenyans to wear a face mask when in public and to properly dispose of the face masks to avoid contamination.

Public education efforts about washing hands with flowing water, sanitizing hands, observing physical distance and avoiding public gatherings continue throughout the country. The Ministry of Health urges people to celebrate the upcoming Easter holiday at home.

Additionally, the Kenya Ministry of Health reports:

·      Over 100,000 healthcare workers have been given COVID-19 related training. Over 4,000 doctors across the country have benefitted from an e-based training on the same.

·      6,192 tests have been completed. Testing and diagnostic capabilities are now able to undertake an average of 600 tests a day. This number will be scaled up in the coming days as reagents from Roche have recently arrived in Nairobi. Testing of medical personnel began today and will go on throughout the country.

·      More than 2,000 contacts of confirmed cases have been monitored and nearly 1,500 of these have now been cleared. 

AMPATH’s partners continue efforts through domestic and international channels to procure needed personal protective equipment (PPE); oxygen tubing, masks and regulators; as well as testing supplies. 

Thank you for your support of AMPATH’s efforts to aid the Government of Kenya’s response to this global threat. The AMPATH partnership will continue to need your support in the weeks and months ahead as we continue to face this viral threat and aid the most vulnerable people in Kenya who are most severely impacted by the necessary efforts to contain and mitigate this disease.