Kenyans warned as community transmission of Omicron variant established

Kenya's Covid-19 positivity rate is at 23 per cent as ongoing community transmission of the Omicron variant has been established.

A total of 2,169 people have tested positive for the disease, from a sample size of 9,428 tested in the last 24 hours.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, in a statement on Saturday, said between November 23 and December 7, nine lineages were identified to be circulating in Kenya from a sample size of 34.

Twenty-seven sequences (77%) were confirmed to belong to the Omicron variant.

Two individuals with the Omicron variant had recently travelled from South Africa and Ghana and the rest had no recent international travel history.

Kagwe urged unvaccinated Kenyans to get the jab and those who have been inoculated to observe good hygiene habits including wearing masks and washing hands.

From the new cases, 2,041 are Kenyans while 128 are foreigners.

A total of 1,130 are females and 1,039 are males.

The youngest is a two-month-old child while the oldest is 95 years.

Total confirmed positive cases are now 262,335 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,924,685.

In terms of county distribution of the cases; Nairobi has 1,230, Kiambu 258,Kajiado 83, Nakuru 116, Machakos 61, Mombasa 56, Nyeri 40, Uasin Gishu 30, Kwale 29 and Kericho 28.

Kisumu has 23, Homa Bay 20,Busia 20, Murang’a 18, Nyandarua 18, Kirinyaga 17, Embu 17,Tharaka Nithi 15, Laikipia 14, Siaya 14, Kakamega 13, Kilifi 9,West Pokot 7, Bomet 7, Meru 5, Kisii 4, Kitui 4, Turkana 3, Lamu2, Garissa 2, Migori 1, Marsabit 1, Nandi 1, Vihiga 1, Baringo 1 and Bungoma 1.

A total of 30 patients have recovered from the disease, 17 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 13 are from various health facilities countrywide.

Total recoveries now stand at 249,222 of whom 201,125 are from the Home-Based Care and Isolation program, while 48,097 are from various health facilities countrywide.

No death was reported. Therefore, the cumulative fatalities remain at 5,353.