NAIROBI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Friday it has approved 22 billion shillings (205 million U.S. dollars) loan to support Kenya's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AfDB said the loan will also help Kenya mitigate the related economic, health and social impacts.

"The next step will focus on helping build resilience for post-COVID-19," the Bank's acting director general for East Africa Nnenna Nwabufo said in a statement.

The lender said the loan will extend additional resources to Kenya as the country takes steps to contain the spread of the pandemic and deal with its unprecedented impact.

The bank's intervention will also be used to support the poor and vulnerable people who have been negatively affected by the pandemic.

Since Kenya's first COVID-19 infection was confirmed on March 13, cases have risen to 1,161, while the number of recoveries and deaths are 380 and 50, respectively, as of Friday.

Kenya says the pandemic which is placing significant pressure on an already stretched healthcare system, has disrupted supply chains and caused job losses in the tourism, hospitality, horticulture and airline industries, among others. Enditem

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