Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 1,139 new infections, two deaths

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 1,139 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday.

China to impose new import restrictions over virus contamination fears

China says it will impose new import restrictions from Saturday.

Under the new set of laws, all producers of food shipped to China will have to register with the customs authority.

The extra rules were previously required only for products posing potential health risks, such as seafood. But now coffee, alcohol, honey, olive oil, chocolate and several other products will also be scrutinised.

New Zealand eases COVID crowd rules

New Zealand has eased its rules on public gatherings — just in time for New Year’s Eve

Crowds will now be allowed to gather in Auckland for the first time since August after the city’s COVID-19 traffic-light settings were moved from red to orange.

Under orange settings, the bars, restaurants and cafes that enforce vaccine pass requirements can remove crowd size limits and the requirement to sit down, allowing people to dance the night away.

Omicron wave peak may have passed, says South Africa

South Africa says it may have passed the peak of its fourth wave of the COVID-19 infections and has therefore lifted overnight curfew rules.

The government, in a statement released after a special cabinet meeting, said the Omicron variant, while highly transmissible, had seen lower hospitalisation rates than previous variants.

The changes announced include lifting restrictions on movement between midnight and 4am. Businesses will also be allowed to sell alcohol under normal licensing rules, instead of closing at 11pm.

Overnight curfew rules of varying severities have been in place since a national state of disaster was declared in late March 2020.

Nigeria reports 1,139 cases

Nigeria has reported 1,139 cases of COVID-19 across the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the new cases were reported in 18 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The states that reported new cases include Rivers (420), Lagos (324), Oyo (81), Gombe (47), Akwa Ibom (41), Kaduna (36), Niger (36), Ondo (35), FCT (29), Delta (18), Edo (15), Ogun (14), Kano (12), Cross River (9), Ekiti (8), Kebbi (8), Nasarawa (4), Enugu (1), and Jigawa (1).

The NCDC said the report includes “41 cases reported for Akwa Ibom state for 27th (12), 28th (15), and 29th (14) December 2021; 9 cases reported for Cross River state for 29th (8) and 30th (1) December 2021; A backlog of confirmed cases from Lagos State from 17th to 29th (321) and 30th (99) December 2021”.

The agency said 512 persons were discharged on Thursday, raising the recovery figure to 214,003.

Two persons died of COVID complications and the country’s fatality toll now stands at 3,030.

Nigeria now has a total of 241,513 confirmed cases in the 36 states and the FCT.

South Korea to extend social distancing rules

South Korea says it will extend stricter social distancing rules for two weeks amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum made the announcement during a COVID-19 response meeting, saying it was too early to be sure that the country overcame the pandemic.

Under the new guidelines, the maximum number of people allowed for private gatherings will remain four for two more weeks until January 16.

The business hour curfew will be maintained on multi-use facilities. Restaurants and cafes will be permitted to open until 9pm local time.