Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 65 cases in 10 states, 137 recoveries

Nigeria on Friday recorded 65 COVID infections. Here are five updates about the pandemic. 

Groups donate handwashing facilities to schools in Kebbi, Sokoto

Access Bank Plc and Xploit Consulting Ltd have donated 40 handwashing facilities to 20 schools in Sokoto and Kebbi states to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

Grace Taiwo, director of communication, Xploit consulting Ltd, said the two organisations partnered to ensure that the items were evenly distributed.

She said 20 schools were selected from Birnin Kebbi and Arugungu LGAs in Kebbi state and Sokoto North and Sokoto South LGAs in Sokoto state.

“There has been a continuous call from the federal government…on measures to reduce the spread of complex diseases,” she said.

“The easiest way to curtail the spread of such diseases is by the washing of hands with soaps and so Xploits Consulting Ltd with support from Access Bank Plc is happy to present the facilities to the selected schools.

“We are not only happy in providing the items but we are committed to supporting the government to fight diseases in the country.

“The devices will help to combat COVID-19 and other related diseases and it will also engender good hygiene.”

Britain opens early booking of booster shots to speed up rollout

The United Kingdom (UK) health ministry says it will open up bookings for booster shots a month before people are eligible to receive the shots to help speed up the rollout.

Sajid Javid, health secretary, said the move will “accelerate” the COVID booster shots campaign.

“This will accelerate the booster programme, ensure the NHS is able to vaccinate people as quickly as possible, and importantly help more people maintain protection against COVID-19 as we know immunity will dip over time,” Javid said.

Austria bans unvaccinated people from public places

Austria says it will bar people not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from public places including cafes, restaurants and hairdressers to curb the surge in infections.

“The evolution is exceptional and the occupancies of intensive-care beds are increasing significantly faster than we had expected,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said, adding that the measure will come into effect on Monday.

“One is a leisure activity undertaken voluntarily. No one forces me to go to the cinema or the restaurant. The other is my place of work.”

Germany to offer booster shots to everyone

Jens Spahn, Germany health minister, says the country is in a very difficult period with regard to its COVID-19 pandemic situation owing to the rising numbers of patients in intensive care.

According to Reuters, Spahn said he has agreed with regional health ministers that in the future everyone should be given a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine six months after receiving their previous injection.

“Anyone who thinks they are young and invulnerable should talk to intensive care staff,” he said.

Nigeria reports 65 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 65 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in nine states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The agency confirmed the new cases in its update for November 6, 2021.

Kaduna topped the list of infections with 20 cases, followed by Gombe with 10 fresh cases and the FCT with nine.

Other states with new infections include Rivers (9), Bauchi (6), Lagos (3), Delta (2), Edo (2), Kano (2) and Oyo(2).

The agency said 137 persons were discharged on Friday after recovering from COVID-19, while zero deaths were reported from the virus.

To date, 212,511 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, 204,185 recoveries have been made, and 2,902 deaths have been recorded across the country.