…As Osun SSG,10 others test positive***

Nigeria has recorded 561 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 25,694.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made the disclosure on Tuesday through its official Twitter handle.

NCDC said that the 561 new confirmed cases were from 19 states, with 17 deaths as at Tuesday.

The health agency said that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours.

The NCDC said that Lagos reported the highest number of cases with 200 new cases and Edo was second with 119 new infections.

Others were Kaduna-52, FCT-52, Niger-32, Ogun-19, Ondo-16, Imo-14, Plateau-11, Abia-8, Oyo-8, Bayelsa-7, Katsina-6, Kano-5, Bauchi-3, Osun-3, Kebbi-3, Borno-2 and Jigawa-1.

The NCDC said that till date, 25,694 cases had been confirmed;  15, 358  were active cases; 9,746 cases treated and discharged; 134, 257 samples collected and 590 deaths recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the NCDC said that three out of every five Nigerians who died from COVID-19 were more than 50 years old.

It urged Nigerians to take precautions to protect their older relatives by wearing a face mask in public, practising hand and respiratory hygiene and maintaining a physical distance of two metres from others.

“Ensure that if you do share a toilet and bathroom with others, they are cleaned after each use. Where possible, consider drawing up a roster for bathing, and you use the bathroom first at the start of each day.

“Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water by all other household members and disinfect frequently touched surfaces e. g door handles, light switches, TV remotes etc throughout the day.

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“Keep shared spaces well ventilated and minimise the time spent in shared enclosed spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas.

“Where possible, sleep in a different bed and endeavour to maintain physical distancing even within the household.

“Do not share towels and beddings or use commonly shared household items including cutlery, drinking cups etc,” the body stated.

The health agency also said it does not own quarantine or treatment centres.

The body said that this was the responsibility of the state governments or relevant teaching hospitals.

The NCDC said it only provides guidance on set-up of standard isolation centres, national case management guidelines and training for health workers across the country.

In the meantime, the meantime, Mr Wole Oyebamiji, the Secretary to Osun Government (SSG) has tested positive to COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 127.

Dr Rafiu Isamotu, the State Commissioner for Health Commissioner, who disclosed this in a statement in Osogbo on Tuesday, said 10 other new cases were also recorded.

” I want to confirm to you that our SSG and some of the staff around him have tested positive to the virus.

“They are all in stable condition and are receiving adequate medical care”,the Commissioner said.

Isamotu said that the 11 new cases were from the contact tracing of previous confirmed cases in the State.

He said with the new confirmed cases, the number the infection in the state has risen to 127, with 74 active cases.

Isamotu, however, said that one patient had been discharged from the isolation centre after tested negative to the virus.

The commissioner noted that one of the reasons for the sudden rise in virus in state was largely due to the nonchalant attitude of residents towards the precautionary measures against the spread of the virus.

He said government might be forced to impose another lockdown, if residents
continue to disregard the laid down precautionary measures against the spread of the virus.

According to him, there are strong reasons to believe that the state now has community transmission around Ilesa town in the state.

“If you observe, our cases have been on the rise consistently in the last two weeks or so.

“The reason is simple. Our people are beginning to be too casual about the spread of the virus.

“The lack of strict adherence to safety protocols and guidelines is one of the main reasons for the rise.

” As a matter of fact, we are beginning to suspect that we have community transmission around Ilesa axis.

“Government is reviewing the cases. Soon, we shall announce other stricter measures to contain the spread of the virus in that axis.

“We have intensified our enforcement drive.

” Some people were arrested for violating safety protocol and were made to go through a compulsory course on COVID-19 preventive protocols.

“We will go a step further by setting up a mobile court to try and sentence violators of safety protocols and guidelines.

“We must collectively join hands with the government to contain the spread of the virus.

“With the latest development, the number of our active cases is 74.

”We have 127 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 48 patients, while five deaths have been recorded,” Isamotu said.