NAIROBI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Saturday confirmed that 688 people tested positive for COVID-19, hitting the highest daily tally since the disease was reported in the country in March.
Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that the cases that had brought the total figure of COVID -19 cases in the country to 12,750 were detected after testing 4,552 samples.
"The figure that includes 425 male and 263 female, is so far the highest number ever tested in one day in the country," Kagwe said during a televised media briefing from eastern Kenyan county of Embu.
He said that during the last 24 hours, 457 patients recovered from the disease after receiving treatment.
"From this figure, 401 have been under home-based care, while 56 have been discharged from various hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries so far to 4,440," said Kagwe.
He said the country had recorded 225 deaths from COVID-19, after three patients succumbed to the disease.
Meanwhile, Kagwe announced plans to introduce electronic medical care cards for all citizens.
He said that the card will enable citizens to seek treatment in all public health facilities in the country.
"With just one swipe, medics will be able to know the status of the patient and immediately embark on giving required attention," said Kagwe.
He said that the card will become effective once the universal healthcare program is unveiled countrywide.
Kagwe said that the government has allocated 6 billion shillings (about 60 million U. S. dollars) towards the implementation of universal healthcare in the country. Enditem
