NAIROBI — Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has announced 12 more people had tested positive for Coronavirus bringing the total number of infections to 246.
He said the 12 were confirmed from 450 tested samples.
Five of the positive cases are hotel workers while four were close contacts traced to already confirmed cases.
“Out of these 450 samples we already have 12 positive cases and we have not even finished the day. What this tells you is that we really need to increase capacity in terms of testing so that even those close contacts to already confirmed cases can also be tested,” he told local media.
Mr. Kagwe was speaking after the Ministry of Health received a number of medical supplies to assist in the fight against Coronavirus.
He confirmed that the cargo brought in by Kenya Airways contained 76,000 N95 masks, visors and other protective gear.
He added that the ministry was working closely with KQ to ensure the employees handling the cargo flights remain safe.
Kagwe also confirmed that the country would be receiving a shipment of ventilators in coming weeks.
As the country continues to enforce restrictions on movement in a bid to halt the spread of the virus, many workers have lost jobs and incomes as some have been sent on unpaid leave.
