NAIROBI, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Forty-five out of Kenya's 47 counties have each recorded at least 100 COVID-19 cases as the disease spreads faster in communities in the east African nation.
From the capital Nairobi to the coast, west and the dry north, COVID-19 is now deeply entrenched in Kenya, with regions that took time to record their first cases registering a faster surge in infections, according to the Ministry of Health.
While Nairobi and the tourism city of Mombasa still account for the bulk of the infections, at 34,515 and 7,921 respectively as of Tuesday, some counties have seen cases rise four-fold in the last months.
They include Uasin Gishu in the Rift where cases on Tuesday stood at 2,485, Nakuru 3,791, Turkana in the north 784 and Baringo 249, the Ministry of Health data shows. Only Wajir and Tana-River have not recorded 100 cases each.
In these counties and others, schools have been closed, local legislative assemblies suspended and services at government departments stopped to curb the spread of the disease.
In Meru, central Kenya, in-person court sessions and services were suspended on Monday following the outbreak of COVID-19.
"After consultation with key stakeholders and public health officials, it has been decided that all in-person court operations and services at Meru Law Courts are hereby suspended for 14 days with effect from Monday, November 23," Chief Justice David Maraga said in a notice on Monday.
Mombasa, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kakamega and Bungoma counties are some of the regions that have in the last weeks seen assemblies suspended their sessions following an outbreak of COVID-19.
The ministry's data shows the disease has spread faster particularly in the second wave that started in Kenya in September and peaked in November, a month in which the country has recorded nearly half of its COVID-19 cases.
On Tuesday, Kenya recorded 727 cases from a sample size of 4,913 to raise the total caseload to 78,512.
"Our numbers are rising at an alarming rate. We must stick to the COVID-19 measures, wash our hands, wear face masks and maintain social distancing if we are to defeat this disease," said Ministry of Health chief administrative secretary Mercy Mwangangi.
Kenya's death rate stands at 1.8 percent of total infections, with the bulk of the 1,409 deaths having been recorded in the second wave. On Tuesday, 17 patients lost their lives, said Mwangangi.
On the other hand, 806 patients recovered to raise the total recoveries to 52,709, with the Ministry of Health cumulative data indicating two out of three people who have contracted the virus in the east African nation have recovered.
As the disease spreads and fatalities rise, Kenyans have tightened the containment measures, with most citizens wearing masks while in public places, sanitizing and striving to maintain social distance.
"We have no choice, we are seeing the deaths rising, including specialist doctors as they treat patients, which is a sad thing. The only way to keep ourselves safe and the doctors is by following the health guidelines," noted Benson Nzambia, an insurance agent in Nairobi. Enditem
