Covid-19 infections rising in Nakuru

Targeted testing of Covid-19 in five sub-counties in Nakuru has revealed a sharp increase in the number of positive cases.

According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the number of positive cases in the region has risen to 6.7 per cent, higher than the national 4.6 per cent.

In a press statement, Kinyanjui said the county commenced target testing on September 28 in Subukia, Rongai, Molo, Nakuru East and Nakuru West, to establish the disease burden.

On October 4, at least 44 people tested positive out of 314 samples collected.

The county recorded the highest cases (75) on September 2, while 57 people tested positive on September 27 out of 344 samples, giving a positivity rate of 16.5 per cent.

“Recently, the county health team recommended a change in management of the Covid-19, and we felt we should go to the community for target tracing,” read the statement.

He added; “The bulk of these numbers are as a result of random and voluntary sampling of perfectly healthy citizens across the county. We are therefore confident that we are getting the correct numbers based on enhanced outreach testing.”

At least 21 patients are admitted at respective isolation and management units, among them 18 at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH) and three at the Naivasha Hospital.

At least 16 patients are on supplementary oxygen.

Jospeh Mburu who is in charge of PGH said consumption of the essential medicine for the treatment of hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood) has risen from 32 to 72 litres of liquefied oxygen daily.

He said consumption of oxygen depends on how each individual’s lungs are affected. All the patients at the facility are symptomatic, with the majority having other underlying health conditions like hypertension and diabetes. [Mercy Kahenda]