Kenya to upgrade and review guidelines on patient management and treatment in wake of new COVID-19 variants

NAKURU,Kenya, July 19 – Kenya is not yet out of danger according to the ministry of health amidst concerns of the rising cases of the COVID-19 infections in Nairobi and Kiambu county.

The recent by-election held in Kiambaa, Kiambu county and other political events across several counties have been attributed as the cause of the upsurge in infection rates.

These super spreader events have now seen the ministry of health and the World Health Organization (W.H.O) move in to re-evaluate the country’s containment measures in the wake of new COVID-19 variants.

“In the last one week we have seen an upsurge in cases of COVID-19 in Nairobi and neighboring towns and this could get worse in the coming days if the political meetings continue,” Said,Dr Loice Ombajo, head of Infectious Diseases Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Health experts from the ministry of health and W.H.O met in Naivasha to upgrade and revise the current guidelines which have been in existence since the pandemic was first reported in the country back in 2020.

During the meeting, it was resolved that a review of the pandemic guidelines on patient management and treatment in the wake of new variants was necessary in order to avert a disaster and further deaths.

“The country is not yet out of the woods even as the cases in Western Kenya which is under lockdown continues to come down.” she said.

Kenyans have meanwhile been encouraged to get the vaccine with latest statistics revealing at least one million Kenyans have received the vital jab. This is seen as the first line of defense as the country gears towards reopening the economy fully.

“We now have several variants and the only way to protect ourselves is through vaccination which is effective despite some myths from members of the public,” she said.

The positivity rate in the country stands at 8.2 percent.

“The virus is mutating, coming up with new symptoms and complications and hence the need to review on patient management.”

W.H.O Disease Prevention and Control Officer Dr Joyce Onsongo said that the entire world is battling the rising cases involving new COVID-19 variants as the high fatal cases in in Africa was due to the lack of capacity, medical equipment and community awareness.

“The country is doing great in terms of stopping the spread of this virus but we need to review the past guidelines, some of which have been overtaken by events and new variants,” said, Dr Joyce Onsongo.

According to the latest statistics, a total of 1,224 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide while 4,358 are under home based isolation and care programs.