The Ministry of Health on Friday announced that 2,964 people contracted COVID-19 from a sample size of 9,082 tested in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate is now at 32.6%, with total confirmed positive cases rising to 267,571 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,975,795.

From the cases, 2,837 are Kenyans while 127 are foreigners; 1,546 are females and 1,418 are males, while the youngest is a four-month-old infant and the oldest is 97 years.

The cases were recorded across various counties as follows; Nairobi 1,113, Nakuru 249, Kiambu 153, Mombasa 136, Siaya 119, Migori 108, Kilifi 90, Kajiado 83, Kisumu 77, Uasin Gishu 76, Machakos 74, Taita Taveta 59, West Pokot 55, Kirinyaga 55,Kwale 51, Kakamega 51, Murang’a 50, Meru 44, Embu 32, Busia 28, Nyeri 28, Bungoma 25, Laikipia 25, Narok 22, Trans Nzoia 20, Bomet 19, Kisii 16, Garissa 16, Homa Bay 15, Kericho 14, Turkana 14, Nyandarua 12, Isiolo 12, Baringo 9, Makueni 7, Kitui 2, Nandi 2, Tharaka Nithi 1, Vihiga 1 and Wajir 1. 

The ministry also said 77 patients recovered from the disease; 25 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 52 were discharged from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries rose to 249,694.

However, one patient succumbed to the disease, which is a late death reported after conducting a facility record audit in December 2021. This pushes the cumulative fatalities to 5,357.

“A total of 645 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 13,887 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care program,” said Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

“16 patients are in the Intensive Care (ICU), 9 of them on ventilatory support while 7 are on supplemental oxygen.”

The CS added: “Another 116 patients are on supplemental oxygen and 112 of them are in the general wards. Four patients are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU)”

Kagwe further stated that as of December 23, a total of 9,434,220 vaccines had so far been administered across the country.

Of these, he said 5,571,509 were partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated were 3,862,711. The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose was at 55.9%.