The number of COVID-19 infections in Kenya rose to 83,316 on Sunday as the health ministry reported 711 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours.

The East African country's caseload has experienced a steady rise since October, even as the government remains optimistic the virus will be brought under control.

Health minister Mutahi Kagwe also announced that the country had registered seven more COVID-19 related deaths, raising its death toll to 1,452.

Kenya's caseload is the sixth-highest in Africa, only shadowed by figures registered by South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

Its death toll is also the sixth-highest on the continent.

Various government imposed measures remain in place in efforts to curb further spread of the virus, including a nationwide nighttime curfew and a ban on large gatherings and mandatory wearing of face coverings in public.