Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 176 infections in 12 states, five deaths

Nigeria on Friday recorded 176 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday. 

Tunisia imposes COVID vaccine pass

The Tunisian government has imposed a COVID-19 vaccine pass in the country.

Citizens and international travellers are now required to provide cards showing that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to access public places.

Jobs of employees who are yet to be vaccinated are to be suspended until a vaccine pass is presented.

New COVID lockdown ‘not on the cards’ says UK PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is no plan to impose a new COVID lockdown in the country.

Johnson lifted England’s COVID restrictions in July but the number of infections is on the rise.

Fielding questions on the possibility of a fresh COVID lockdown, Johnson said “I’ve got to tell you at the moment that we see absolutely nothing to indicate that is on the cards at all.”

Norway suspends COVID vaccine second dose for 12-15 year-olds 

Norway says it will suspend giving children aged 12-15 a second dose of the COVID vaccine.

The country more research is needed on administering the vaccine on the age group owing to a rare side effect involving inflammation of the heart.

“A second vaccine dose is also linked with a higher risk of pericarditis and myocarditis, especially among young men and boys,” the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said in a statement.

Nigeria records 176 infections 

Nigeria on Friday confirmed 176 fresh COVID infections.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the cases were reported in 11 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

According to the agency’s data, the FCT topped the list of infections with 73 new cases, followed by Plateau with 25 and Rivers with 20.

Kano (18), Lagos (15), Bauchi (9), Osun (8), Ekiti (3), Edo (2), Bayelsa (1), Niger (1), and Sokoto (1).

The NCDC said 91 patients were discharged on Friday after they recovered from the infection.

Five persons were said to have died of COVID complications.

To date, Nigeria has confirmed a total of 210,136 cases, 198,117 recoveries and 2,855 deaths across the country.

Fauci: Americans can mix and match COVID-19 boosters

Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, says Americans can choose a COVID-19 booster shot that is different from their original vaccination.

Fauci, however, said the recommendation is to stick with the brand they initially received.

“It’s generally recommended that you get the booster that is the original regimen that you got in the first place,” Fauci said in an interview with CNN.

“But for one reason or other – and there may be different circumstances with people, availability or just different personal choices — you can, as we say, mix and match.”