Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth has listed six diseases contributing to COVID-19 deaths in his weekly question and answer session on Twitter on Wednesday, July 22.
Amoth indicated that of the total deaths, fatalities for patients with Hypertension and Diabetes (combined) led at 33%, with Hypertension only at 17%. Diabetes only followed at 15% with Chronic Lung diseases and Cancer at 10% each.
HIV aids was sixth at 4%.
The Health Ministry has numerously directed individuals with preexisting conditions to stay indoors and protect themselves as they were more vulnerable to developing severe disease.
Kenya reported a rise in deaths between the months of May and July, with the rise in fatalities ranked among the top ten globally according to data by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The survey indicated that an average of 2.5 deaths are recorded per per day. MoH had predicted Kenya’s Coronavirus cases to rise between the months of August and September.
“The cases are rising as we approach the peak, which we have always stated will be around the end of August to the beginning of September. The increased testing rate has also revealed the high burden of Covid-19 on the population,” Amoth stated on Wednesday, July 22.
Amoth also spoke on the cold weather conditions being experienced in the country, with low temperatures being recorded across various parts of the country. The weather poses a risk for many Kenyans contracting cold with symptoms ranging from fever, headaches and exhaustion, which can be mistaken for Covid-19.
“I encourage anybody with any respiratory illness to visit the nearest health facility for assessment and management. All healthcare workers across the country have been trained in case detection and management. Confirmation of Covid-19 is only by a laboratory test,” Amoth stated asking Kenyans not to assume any infection nor purchase over the counter drugs.
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In her analysis for the months of June to August, Kenya Meteorological Department Director Stella Aura detailed that the Rift Valley and areas east of Rift Valley (Nairobi and Mt Kenya regions) parts of the Lake Victoria Basin Region from Kisii to Migori) are expected to experience near-average with a tendency to cooler than average temperatures.
Counties in Northwestern Kenya (Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot), several counties in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Nandi, Vihiga, Bungoma), some counties in the Lake Victoria Basin Region (Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, parts of Migori, Kisumu), Central Rift Valley (parts of Laikipia and Nakuru, Baringo), as well as some counties in the Lake Victoria Basin region, are likely to experience near-average temperatures.
