COVID-19 Update: Nigeria Adds 350 New Cases To Global Tally, Records 323 Deaths

• Worldwide cases hit 6.6m with 388,710 deaths
• South Africa records  40,792 cases; 848 deaths
• Ghana reports 8,885 cases; 38 deaths

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI ABUJA – Figures released late on Thursday night indicate that Nigeria continues to add substantially to the rising numbers of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection globally with the 350 new cases reported taking the total figure of confirmed cases to 11,516 nationwide.

This is coming on the heels of latest statistics published by Johns Hopkins University, showing that cases have surpassed 6.6 million worldwide.

According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the number of known infections is currently confirmed as 6,601,349 with deaths fast approaching 390,000. Also, t⁴he current fatality toll stands at 389,645 with about  2,851,157 people fully recovered from the pandemic treatment.

It further said the figures, which are based on official and media reports, are likely to significantly underestimate the scale of the pandemic due to differing testing and recording regimes, as well as suspected under-reporting.

According to the report, which cited figures in three African countries, Nigeria has a tally of 11,516 cases and 323 deaths, South Africa has so far recorded 40,792 cases and 848 deaths, while Ghana currently boast of 8,885 cases and 38 deaths.

It said that presently, 213 countries and territories across the world and two (2) international conveyances have so far recorded at least one case of the coronavirus. Nigeria’s total number of COVID-19 cases is the 54th highest globally.

Going by information on its official twitter handle, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said; “Till date, 11516 cases have been confirmed, 3535 cases have been discharged and 323 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

Aside the eight (8) deaths recorded, a breakdown of the 350 new cases reported from 20 states in the last 24 hours gave Lagos – (102); Ogun – (34); FCT – (29); Borno – (26); Kaduna – (23); Rivers – (21); and Kwara – (16).

The list also has Ebonyi – (17); Katsina – (14); Edo, Delta, Kano and Bauchi – (10) cases each; Bayelsa – Nine (9); Imo – Eight (8); Plateau – Four (4); Ondo – Three (3); Nasarawa – Two (2); while Gombe and Oyo reported One (1) case each.

The 350 new cases bring the total number of active coronavirus patients in Nigeria to 7,668 as at June 4, 2020,

However, on current state by state basis, the figures showed that Lagos still remains the epicentre of the virus infection with a total of 5,542 confirmed cases. This figure followed the additional 102 confirmed cases reported in the State late Thursday night.

Coming a distant second is Kano State with 980 confirmed cases, while the nation’s capital. Abuja, FCT is currently occupying the third position with 792 cases.

Also listed among the 16 states with more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 do far are:
Katsina – 385; Edo – 351; Borno – 322; Kaduna – 320; Oyo – 318; Ogun – 316; Rivers – 290; Jigawa – 274; Bauchi – 256; Gombe – 170; Kwara – 127; Delta – 116; Sokoto – 115; and Plateau – 113.

With the NCDC’s reported three cases of coronavirus in Kogi State still generating controversies between the Centre and Governor Yahaya Bello-led adminstration, Cross River remains the only state in Nigeria without a confirmed case of the deadly virus. – With agency reports