… As PTF says Nigeria now in second wave***
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Thursday registered 1,145 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), alongside one death, in the country.
The NCDC made this known via its verified website on Dec.17, 2020, hinting that the sudden surge might not be unconnected with observed return of the pandemic’s second wave.
The figure was the highest ever infection recorded in one day since recordkeeping of COVID-19 commenced in Nigeria.
The latest figure surpassed the 930 cases recorded across the country on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 , giving further indication that the country is experiencing a second wave of the virus.
The public health agency sadly recorded one death in the last 24 hours in the country.
The NCDC said that the new infections brought the country’s totals to 76, 207.
According to it, the new infections are from 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCDC also disclosed that 335 patients have been discharged after testing negative from the virus.
The public health agency stated that Lagos State, the epicentre of the virus in the country, recorded the highest number of infections with 459 cases; FCT, Kaduna, and Plateau confirmed 145, 138 and 80 respectively.
Other states include Katsina-70, Gombe-52, Niger-31, Kano-23, Bayelsa -21, Bauchi-18, Ondo-18, Rivers-17, Ogun-12, Oyo-12, Edo – eight, Nasarawa- eight, Ebonyi- seven, Osun- six, Ekiti- five, Kebbi- five, Borno- four, Jigawa- three, Akwa Ibom- two and Anambra-one.
The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated at Level 3 continues to coordinate the national response activities.
The agency noted that till date, 76,207 cases have been confirmed, 67,110 cases have been discharged and 1,201 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In Week 50, the number of new confirmed cases increased to 3,918 from 1,843 in Week 49. These were reported in 33 states including FCT.
Also read: Nigeria records 930 new COVID-19 infections
In Week 50, the number of discharged cases decreased to 1,316 from 1,726 in week 49. These were reported in 25 states including FCT.
Cumulatively, since the outbreak began in Week 9, there have been 1,197 deaths reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.6 per cent .
The number of reported deaths in the last one week in states, including FCT, is 17.
In Week 50, the number of in-bound international travellers at Nigerian airports was 15,805 compared to 11,711 in Week 49.
In Week 50, the number of international travellers with a positive result after the 7th day of arrival was 129 compared to 81 in week 49.
In Africa, the count for confirmed COVID-19 cases is 2,379,094 with 56,337 deaths resulting in a case fatality rate of 2.4 per cent.
Globally, the count for confirmed COVID-19 cases is 70,829,855 with 1,605,091 deaths resulting in a case fatality rate of 2.3 per cent.
Errata: Two new cases were erroneously reported for Osun State in week.
The agency has conducted about 864,104 tests since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced.
In the meantime, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, says there were indications that the country had entered a second wave of infections.
Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF) Mr Boss Mustapha, who gave the indication, lamented the risk of not just losing the gains from the hard work of the last nine months, but also losing precious lives of citizens.
The PTF’s concerns were being expressed ahead of next week’s submission of its end of term report to the President on Dec. 22, 2020.
Speaking at the national briefing on Thursday, the PTF chairman, who was represented by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said: “the events and statistics of the last two weeks, within and outside Nigeria, have been very mixed.
“On the one hand, the cheering news of the COVID-19 vaccine, while on the other hand, we have witnessed spikes in number of infections at home and abroad.
“The real threat is upon humanity and the progress made in the global health sector in the last five decades or more.
”In Nigeria, the indication is that we have entered a second wave of infections and we stand the risk of not just losing the gains from the hard work of the last nine months but also losing the precious lives of our citizens.
“The PTF believes that if we do the right things, adhere to the NPIs and step up our testing and detection, loss of lives will be minimised and the rising curve will begin to flatten”, the chairman said.
Mustapha further stated: “we are in a potentially difficult phase of the COVID-19 resurgence; accessing the hope offered by the arrival of the vaccine is still some time ahead.
”Vaccines alone cannot cure the virus, rather, but a combination of initiatives, including the NPIs; that more than ever before, we need compliance.”
The SGF also stated that the PTF “shall escalate our risk communication and community engagement strategies to higher levels.
“Lives have been lost, but we must slow down the pace of the spread; and at the rate at which the numbers are rising should be examined and our vigilance and compliance with the NPIs should be intensified,” he said.
On the report to be submitted next week, Mustapha said: “Last Tuesday, the PTF held the end of term technical session. It afforded the PTF the opportunity to assess the progress made and the present dangers that confront us.
“The report of the PTF will be submitted to the President on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020. Current realities, however, point to the fact that the course of further opening up of the economy may have to be reviewed,” he said.
While cautioning Nigerians ahead of the Christmas season, the PTF said: “the festive season is here and we remain conscious of the fact that large gathering events will take place.
“It is our strong advice that all non-essential trips be cancelled outrightly. We also urge citizens to avoid large gathering events,” he added.
