COVID-19 Update: Nigeria’s Tally Hits 2,802, Reports 245 New Cases

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI, ABUJA – As expected, the increased testing capacity of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) further proved critics right on Monday with the country recording 245 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in 24 hours.

The figure brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 2,802 with the centre also disclosing that fatalities have risen to 93 after recording six (6) new deaths on the day.

With no new state reporting a case in the last 24 hours, the NCDC said from the nation’s tally of 2,802 confirmed cases, 417 patients have been treated and discharged from the different isolation centres and accredited hospitals while the 93 deaths have so far been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

A breakdown of the 245 new cases showed the figure came from 16 states with Lagos as usual churning out the highest number of 76 followed by Katsina – (37); Jigawa – (32); Kano – (23); and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – (19).

Others on the roll call of fresh cases are: Borno – (18); Edo – (10); Bauchi – (9); Adamawa – (6); Oyo and Ogun – (5) each; while five states, Ekiti, Osun, Benue, Niger and Zamfara recorded a case each.

The NCDC also explained that nine (9) cases previously announced as discharged cases, were reported in error and the appropriate number of discharged patients after full recovery are 417.

Similarly, the Centre said one case earlier reported in Nasarawa State was a repeat test and the North Central state correct figure is a total of 11 confirmed cases

The NCDC further disclosed that they are working with the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners in the operationalisation of sample collection sites in Local Governments, for COVID-19 diagnosis, adding; “This is part of our strategy to ensure cases are detected early.”

Highlighting its signature tune of #Take Responsibility, the NCDC also said; “We are rapidly increasing the number of frontline workers trained to respond to #COVID19 in all 36 states & FCT

“In the last three weeks, we have trained over 8000 health workers, focusing on infection prevention and control”

The Federal Government on Monday, May 4, commenced a phased process of easing the lockdown in the nation’s capital Abuja and Lagos after about five (5) weeks of restriction on economic, social and religious activities.