WHO raises alarm over recent surge in Covid-19 cases

Reverend John Wanyoike

Reverend John Wanyoike of National Independent Church of Africa based in Kenol, Murang’a, receives his first dose of the Covid vaccine from Nurse Evangeline Muchiri at the Ufungamano House on December 8, 2021. 

Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the red flag over the spike in the coronavirus as Kenya’s positivity rate nearly doubled over 24 hours.

From 6.6 per cent on Monday, the positivity rate—the percentage of people who test positive for the virus from an overall sample tested—jumped to 11.5 per cent yesterday.

The country also recorded its highest cases in recent weeks after 331 people out of a sample of 2,872 were found to be infected. Kenya had 201 cases on Sunday and 198 a day later.

According to the WHO Africa regional office, Kenya, like many other African countries, is experiencing the fourth wave that is speculatively attributed to Omicron, the new variant of concern.

“The current rising trend is a concern,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director.

It is estimated that Covid-19 cases in Africa are doubling every five days amid slow uptake of vaccines. “This is the largest surge Africa has recorded since May last year and it is due to the emergence of the variant of concern. We are experiencing more cases and deaths. An estimated 40 per cent of patients in Africa need supplementary oxygen.”

In Kenya, after months of a lull, wards in Covid facilities are once again in use, with some counties having dozens of critical patients.

By yesterday, 26 patients had been admitted to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. “The numbers have increased since last month. We had 12 patients in isolation wards and residents need to continue wearing masks and observing social distancing to avoid being infected,” county public health director Richard Onkware told the Daily Nation.

Kakamega General Hospital had four Covid-19 patients, with one fighting for his life on oxygen support. “We have had a total of four deaths in the past two weeks, both at facility and community level," said county Health executive Collins Matemba.

Kisumu County has recorded 10 cases of Covid-19 in the past week, with five admissions, according to county director of public health Fredrick Oluoch. “We are concerned that residents are no longer observing the Covid-19 regulations,” said Mr Oluoch.

Hospitals in Nairobi are also recording a spike in cases after almost two months of low activity.

Metropolitan Hospital, for instance, had closed the Covid-19 isolation unit in October and November but reopened it this month. The hospital’s Covid-19 positivity rate, which was below five per cent last week, has since shot up to 26 per cent.

Currently, it has five patients, two of whom are in the high dependency unit and three in the general ward. Four of the inpatients are on oxygen support.

“We have been seeing the number of outpatients doubling but have not tested all of them for Covid-19. They are, however, registering respiratory symptoms,” said Elijah Ongeri, the hospital’s infectious disease expert and head of nursing.

Aga Khan University Hospital has 10 inpatients in the Covid-19 isolation unit. They have mild symptoms.

But even with increased cases, the Health ministry has yet to divulge information on the latest update on genomic sequencing that will reveal if the country has identified Omicron. The ministry has also not released projections that would inform the fight against the resurgent virus.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth declined to comment on the presence of Omicron in the country. “We have lowered our guard, yet Covid-19 is still here with us, the spike in cases is not surprising,” he said.


Access to public services

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe yesterday regretted the surge in cases and urged Kenyans to get vaccinated to avert a lockdown. He maintained that the government would require Kenyans to be vaccinated before accessing certain public services as is the case in other countries.

He was reacting to a High Court decision to suspend the directive following a petition lodged by businessman Enock Aura.

Justice Antony Mrima yesterday said the directive by Mr Kagwe should not be enforced pending determination of the case.

“The petitioner has presented testimony that those who will not make evidence available on receiving the jab will be barred from accessing vital services from government departments,” said the judge.

Mr Kagwe spoke at a Machakos hotel while inaugurating the boards of management for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and Kenya Biovax Institute, a government vaccine manufacturer. He unveiled M-Pesa CEO Sitoyo Lopokoiyit as the new chairman of the MTRH board and Telkom Kenya CEO Mugo Kibati as the chairman of the board at Kenya BioVax Institute.

The vaccine manufacturing facility, the first of its kind in Kenya, is to roll out the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines by April next year, according to Mr Kagwe, to enhance the country's preparedness in the war on the virus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the ministry to operationalise the facility by April to enhance self-reliance on Covid-19 vaccines and other highly specialised healthcare products.

By Eunice Omollo, Hellen Shikanda, Pius Maundu, Richard Munguti, Elizabeth Ojina, Derick Luvega, Ian Byron and Benson Ayienda