Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 105 new infections, one death

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 105 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday.

UK to offer vaccine booster shots to its citizens by end of January 2022

All eligible adults in England aged 18 and over will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of January.

According to a statement by the UK government on Tuesday, this came following advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“Everyone who is currently eligible – including those aged 40 and over, health and social care workers and those at increased risk from the virus due to health conditions – will be able to book their jab from three months after their second dose, meaning an additional 7 million people over 40 are now eligible,” the statement reads.

Greece to fine citizens over 60 who refuse COVID vaccine

Greece is making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for its citizens aged 60 and over.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the country’s prime minister, said a fine of €100 (£85) will be imposed at monthly intervals from mid-January on those who refuse.

He said the money will go towards the Greek health system.

“Greeks over the age of 60… must book their appointment for a first jab by January 16. Their vaccination is henceforth compulsory,” he said.

US panel backs at-home COVID-19 pill by Merck

A panel of experts to the US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday ‘narrowly’ voted to recommend that the agency authorise Merck & Co’s antiviral pill to treat COVID-19.

The panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.

“I see this as an incredibly difficult decision with many more questions than answers,” Lindsey Baden, the panel’s chair, said.

Nigeria records 105 COVID cases, one death

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 105 cases have been reported across the country.

The agency the fresh infections were recorded in eight states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The states with new cases of COVID-19 Nigeria include Lagos (43), Gombe (21), FCT (16), Niger (10), Rivers (6), Plateau (5), Edo (2), Bauchi (1), and Kano (1).

The NCDC data showed that 12 people recovered from the infection.

One COVID fatality was reported on Wednesday leaving the fatality figure at 2,977.

So far, Nigeria has confirmed 214,218 infections and 207,304 recoveries.

Omicron COVID cases in UK hit 22

The total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron COVID variant in the UK is now 22.

According to the UK health agency, the cases have been identified in the East Midlands, East of England, London and the North West.

Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with five cases in the Lanarkshire area and four in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Targeted testing is said to be ongoing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious.