The number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 continues to rise in Kenya, giving hope that the East African nation can overcome the disease. The total recoveries crossed the 2,000 marks to stand at 2,013 as 42 more people were discharged from hospitals on Monday.

NAIROBI, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 continues to rise in Kenya, giving hope that the East Africa nation can overcome the disease.

On Monday, total recoveries crossed the 2,000 marks to stand at 2,013 as 42 more people were discharged from hospitals, Kenya's Chief Administrative Secretary of Ministry of Health Rashid Aman said.

The recoveries in Kenya have picked up in the past weeks even as the positive cases surge.

"The high number of recoveries means that we must celebrate our health workers for their efforts in treating the sick," said Aman.

Close to 80 percent of Kenya's COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic, with a smaller number showing mild symptoms and others in need of critical care, according to the Kenya's Ministry of Health.

This is one of the reasons the country has been able to discharge more patients during the pandemic, noted the ministry.

Public health workers go about their work in collecting swab samples for COVID-19 testing, from workers in the hospitality industry in Rongai, Nakuru County, Kenya, June 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Sheikh Maina)

Most of those discharged are being taken care of under the home-based care system, which has helped decongest hospitals.

But as recoveries increase, so are the cases of positive infections which stood at 6,190 on Monday after 120 more people tested positive. Deaths from the disease stood at 144 on Monday, according to Aman.

Francis Kuria, the head of public health from the ministry, said stigma is one of the main challenges those who have recovered have to grapple with.

On Monday, The European Union granted Kenya 275 million Kenyan shillings (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars) to help boost the government's fight against COVID-19. ■