Kenya reports 603 COVID-19 cases on Sunday

FILE PHOTO: Kenya's minister for Health, Mr. Mutahi Kagwe. /Ministry of Health-Kenya

Kenya's Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 603 new COVID-19 cases in the country, just a day after it reported a record high of 688 new infections in 24 hours.

The new figures push the East African country's total to 13,353 confirmed cases making it one of the worst-affected countries, along with Sudan, in the region.

The ministry, in a statement, also announced that there were682 new recoveries and nine new fatalities raising Kenya's respective totals to 5,122 and 234.

Earlier this month, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a phased reopening of the country following pressure to revive the economy and alleviate the suffering of the poor after four months of COVID-19-related restrictions.

President Kenyatta did so despite admitting that the country had not met certain requirements to do so.

Life in much of the country appears to have returned to normal despite repeated warnings by the government for people to adhere to the remaining restrictions.

President Kenyatta, however,warned that he would not hesitate to reimpose strict regulations if the country's situation worsened.

(With input from Kenya's Ministry of Health)