The Kenyan Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that COVID-19 infections in the country had passed the 2,000 mark, further confirming 27 sequences belonging to the newly identified Omicron variant.

“I confirm that between November 23 and December 7, 2021, we identified 9 lines circulating in Kenya out of a sample of 34,” Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said in a statement.

Kagwe explained that only the first two individuals carrying the Omicron variant had a travel history from South Africa and Ghana, while the others had no recent international travel history, suggesting community transmission in Classes.

While attributing the strong resurgence of cases to the newly identified Omicron variant, the minister urged Kenyans to get vaccinated and those vaccinated to adhere to established health protocols.

The ministry said 2,169 people tested positive for COVID-19 out of a sample of 9,428 tested in the past 24 hours, bringing the positivity rate to 23%.

On Thursday and Friday this week, the positivity rate was 16.3% and 22.4% respectively.

The total of confirmed positive cases is now 262,335, while cumulative testing to date is 2,924,685.

Of the 2,169 new cases, 2,041 are Kenyans while 128 are foreigners; 1,130 are women and 1,039 are men, while the youngest is two months old and the oldest is 95 years old.

The ministry also said 30 patients have recovered from the disease, including 17 from the isolation and home care program while 13 have been discharged from various health facilities across the country. The total recoveries amount to 249,222.

No deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours, so the cumulative number of deaths still stands at 5,353.

“A total of 241 patients are currently admitted to various health facilities across the country, while 4,474 are under the isolation and home care program,” Kagwe said.

(With the contribution of the agencies)