Daily COVID Tracker: Infections rise as NCDC logs 39 cases in six states

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 39 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday. 

Tokyo commences COVID-19 vaccination for Olympic staff

Tokyo has commenced COVID-19 vaccination for staff and media personnel in preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics.

The metropolitan government plans to vaccinate about 2,500 people every day until the end of August using the Pfizer shot.

Volunteers and staff who will be working at the athletes’ village and competition venues as well as members of the media and health workers are eligible for the vaccination at the designated centre.

Africa experiencing a full-blown third wave of COVID infections

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Africa is currently experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, disclosed this at a media briefing on Thursday.

The development comes amid concerns over new variants of COVID-19, said to be responsible for rising infection rates.

“Africa is in the midst of a full-blown third wave. The sobering trajectory of surging cases should rouse everyone into urgent action. We’ve seen in India and elsewhere just how quickly COVID-19 can rebound and overwhelm health systems,” Moeti said.

Moeti advised that public health measures must be scaled up on the continent to flatten the curve.

Nigeria’s economy recovering from COVID-19 impact, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Nigeria’s economy is “gradually” recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IMF said this in a statement on Thursday following meetings held with the federal government.

“The Nigerian economy has started to gradually recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic,” it said.

“Following sharp output contractions in the second and third quarters, GDP growth turned positive in fourth quarter 2020 and growth reached 0.5 per cent (year-over-year) in first-quarter 2021, supported by agriculture and services sectors.

“Nevertheless, the employment level continues to fall dramatically and, together with other socio-economic indicators, is far below pre-pandemic levels.”

South Korea to combine COVID-19 vaccine doses for people

South Korea says about 760,000 residents who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as the first dose will receive the Pfizer vaccine as a second shot.

According to the government, the move follows shipment delays by COVAX, the global vaccine sharing scheme.

Reuters reports that many countries, including Canada and Spain, have approved a similar measure owing to concerns about rare and potentially fatal blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Nigeria records 39 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded 39 COVID-19 infections in five states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on Thursday.

Thursday’s figure represents a 387 percent increase compared to the eight cases reported on Wednesday.

For the past days this week, Nigeria recorded relatively low COVID cases.

States that recorded infections on Thursday are Lagos with 34 cases while Ebonyi, Ekiti, FCT, Jigawa and Rivers reported one case each.

The agency added that Thursday’s figure includes “data from Lagos State recorded over the last two days”.

Nigeria’s zero death toll enters its thirteenth day – leaving the fatality toll at 2,117.

So far, 167,142 infections have been confirmed across the country with 163,535 recoveries.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA