Daily COVID Tracker: Infections hit 18-week high as NCDC logs 317 cases

Nigeria on Friday recorded 317 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday. 

China donates 470,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Nigeria

Nigeria has received 470,000 doses of  COVID-19 vaccine donated by China.

Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, delivered the vaccines to Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, in Abuja on Friday.

Jianchun said the donation is a result of the diplomatic ties between the countries.

“Nigeria is a very important country to China due to its population and size,” Jianchun said.

“COVID-19 is a health issue. We need cooperation. We need unity to overcome COVID-19.”

Japan PM asks Pfizer to deliver COVID-19 doses amid shortage

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has asked Albert Bourla, chief executive officer of Pfizer, to deliver some of the COVID-19 vaccine doses it ordered amid a shortage.

Suga made the demand when he met with Bourla at the Akasaka Palace state guest house, Tokyo, on Friday.

Japan contracted Pfizer to deliver 100 million vaccine doses by June with another 70 million due to be shipped between July and September, and another 20 million in or after October, according to Kyodo news.

EU regulator endorses use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for teenagers

European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine be approved for use in children aged between 12 and 17.

“The overall safety profile of Spikevax determined in adults was confirmed in the adolescent study; the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) therefore considered that the benefits of Spikevax in children aged 12 to 17 outweigh the risks,” the EMA said.

The vaccine will be administered to the age group after approval is granted by the European Commission.

Nigeria records 317 cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 317 cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday.

Friday’s figure is the highest single-day cases recorded since March 10 when 399 infections were reported.

According to NCDC, the infections were confirmed in 10 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Lagos, the worst-hit state by the pandemic, recorded 172 cases, followed by Akwa Ibom with 62 infections and Oyo with 33.

Other states that recorded infections include Rivers (32), Ekiti (5), FCT (5), Ogun (3), Sokoto (2), Bayelsa (1), Gombe (1) and Kano (1).

The agency said eight recoveries were recorded on Friday while one person died of COVID complications.

So far, 170,623 cases have been confirmed across the country, out of which 164,780 patients have recovered. The country’s death toll stands at 2,131.

US buys 200m doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech says the US government has purchased 200 million additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The doses may be used for pediatric vaccination and as possible booster shots.

“These additional doses will help the U.S. government ensure broad vaccine access into next year,” Albert Bourla, Pfizer chief executive officer, said in a statement.

According to Reuters, the purchase brings the total number of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses to be supplied to the US to 500 million.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA