We plan to change contact tracing strategy, says CAS
The Ministry of Health will change its strategy in contact tracing of coronavirus infections, Chief Administrative Secretary of Health, Dr Mercy Mwangangi said yesterday.
While giving the daily briefing on Covid-19 updates, Mwangangi said the strategy, which involved identifying anyone a confirmed case might have come into contact with - from two days prior to the onset of symptoms to up to 14 days afterwards – is not possible now with the surging community transmissions.
Mwangangi said the intention to change the scheme is informed by science, which has advised that contact tracing be more focused on the most vulnerable.
“You have to relook at your contact tracing strategy; perhaps what needs to be done is to map out those who are more vulnerable,” she said pointing to the advise scientists have given in order to deal with the complicated community transmission.
“Who is that vulnerable person that needs to be contacted?” she paused, adding that the challenge thrown at the government’s door as it battles the stubborn virus.
“The earlier strategy is not feasible,” she said when the country recorded 379 more Covid-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 31,015.
The CAS elaborated that, previously contact tracing meant that those who have contracted the virus could be located; isolated and treated before they infect others in their community.
“We have established community transmission. It becomes extremely difficult to determine how a positive case was infected,” she added.
Total number
A Lancet study conducted at the onset of August shows that one of the most optimistic strategies to control further transmissions during de-escalation of physical distancing is contact tracing via conventional methods or mobile app technology.
Regrettably, 19 patients have succumbed to the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities to 506. “One died in the household,” Mwangangi disclosed.
She added: “Out of the 19 fatalities recorded yesterday, 18 had underlying health conditions which are mostly diabetes and hypertension.”
Some 3, 867 samples were tested in the same period of time. Of the 379 positive cases, 223 were male while 156 were female. The youngest case is a one-year- old and the oldest is aged 87.
The new cases were distributed in Nairobi 219, Kiambu 40, Uasin Gishu 28, Kajiado 14, Machakos 13, Kisumu 10, Mombasa (seven), Kericho (six), Baringo (five), Bomet (five), Nandi (four), Nyeri (four), Isiolo (three), Narok (three), Busia, Garissa, Homa bay and Kilifi had two cases each while Kirinyaga, Kisii, Laikipia, Makueni, Nyamira, Taita Taveta and Trans Nzoia had a case each.
The cases in Nairobi, according to the update, were spread out in Westlands and Starehe having 28 cases each, Embakasi East 21, Makadara 20, Langata 18, Dagoretti North 15, Ruaraka 13, Kibra 12, Kasarani 11, Roysambu 10, Embakasi South and Embakasi West eight cases each, Dagoretti South, Kamukunji and Mathare had six cases each while Embakasi North and Central had five and four cases respectively.
The 40 cases in Kiambu were from Thika 12, Ruiru 11, Kiambaa and Kiambu Town six cases each, Githunguri and Juja had two cases each while Gatundu South had one case.
“Kenya is actively participating in vaccine trials. Not just for the coronavirus but other diseases such as HIV and Ebola,” she said.
At the same time, 244 patients have been discharged from hospital bringing the total number of recovered cases to 17,612.
Some 76 of the patients are from health facilities while 168 are from the home-based care program.
The CAS complained that there was a rise of cases recorded among young people and urged them to be extremely more careful reiterating Tuesday’s observations by her fellow CAS, Rashid Aman who said Kenyan youth were engaging in a reckless lifestyle.
“A 28-year-old is among those who passed on. We are all duty bound to take care of each other but the duty is yours as a Kenyan,” she advised.
Dr Mwangangi said, the sharp rise in infections and fatalities among the young people is the lifestyle choice, and on the other part, perhaps the older generation, are more careful due to their age and related disease impacts.
