Kenya reports 199 new COVID-19 cases, total tally jumps to 88,579

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Kenya on Monday reported 199 new COVID-19 positive cases obtained from a sample size of 2,416, taking the country's total number of infections to 88,579.

The ministry of health also announced 5 new COVID-19 related fatalities, raising the country's death toll to 1,571.

Kenya is one of only eight countries in Africa that have registered more than 80,000 COVID-19 infections.

The East African country's caseload is the sixth-highest on the continent, only shadowed by tallies recorded by South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

Kenya's steady upsurge in infections has prompted calls from a section of leaders to urge the government to impose a lockdown during the end year festivities.

Local media report that last week the Council of Governors asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to curb travel during the season in order to stop the spread of the disease by citizens who plan to visit their families and friends in the rural areas.

Government-imposed measures that are currently active include a nationwide nighttime curfew, a ban on large gatherings and a partial closure of learning institutions.