Daily COVID Tracker: Infections spread as NCDC logs 631 cases, eight deaths

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 631 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday. 

SGF: FG will soon make COVID vaccination mandatory for civil servants

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says the federal government will soon make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for civil servants.

Speaking at a meeting of the health commissioners forum on Thursday in Abuja, Mustapha said the government wants civil servants to be vaccinated, considering that they sometimes represent Nigeria abroad.

The SGF, who is chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19 (PSC), said the fact that some countries have banned unvaccinated persons is one of the reasons civil servants should embrace vaccination.

White House: US to invest $3bn in COVID-19 vaccine supply chain

The United States plans to invest $3 billion in the vaccine supply chain.

Jeffrey Zients, White House COVID adviser, disclosed this on Thursday.

The funds will focus on manufacturers of the inputs used in producing the COVID-19 vaccine and facilities that package vaccine vials.

“The investments we are making, the $3 billion, are in U.S. companies that will expand their capacity for critical supplies,” Zients said.

Japan to ease some COVID-19 restrictions

The Japanese government is considering easing COVID restrictions, including allowing sale of alcohol in restaurants and extending their opening hours.

The restrictions is expected to be eased between October and November, but based on the progress in vaccinations, according to local media.

Nigeria records 631 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 631 fresh COVID-19 cases across the country.

The infections were reported in 19 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), according to the NCDC data for September 2, 2021.

Lagos recorded the highest number of infections with 172 cases followed by Oyo and Rivers with 93 and 72 cases respectively.

Other states are Edo (63), Kastina (29), Abia (26), FCT (23), Kano (23), Bayelsa (20), Ogun (20), Ekiti (18), Anambra (16), Delta (16), Osun (14), Imo (11), Benue (6), Enugu (4), Jigawa (2), Niger (2) and Nasarawa (1).

The agency data indicate that 294 people were discharged on Thursday while eight persons died of COVID complications.

The NCDC said the data include “backlog of 63 cases reported for Edo state from 1st (35), 2nd (28), September 2021 and 29 cases reported for Kastina State from 1st (10), and 2nd September (10), 2021”.

So far, Nigeria has 193,644 confirmed cases, 179,294 recoveries and 2,488 COVID fatalities across the country and the FCT.

WHO seeks more vaccine doses for Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says African countries may miss the goal of vaccinating 10 percent of their most vulnerable populations against COVID before the end of September.

WHO Africa, in a statement on Thursday, said new data shows that 42 out of Africa’s 54 nations may miss the target with the current pace of delivery and administration of vaccines.

According to the statement, nine African countries, including South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia have reached the global target of vaccination set by the World Health Assembly.

Speaking on the development at a media briefing on Thursday, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, called for more efforts in the fight against the pandemic, adding that 26 Africans die of the infection every hour.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA