Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 727 infections in 18 states, seven deaths

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 727 cases of coronavirus. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday. 

Japan extends COVID restrictions in Tokyo

Japan has extended COVID-19 restrictions in Tokyo and other regions until the end of September to curtail the surge in infections.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the move is needed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with coronavirus cases.

“Inoculation of all those who wish to be vaccinated will be completed in October or November,” Suga said on Thursday, adding that “from then, we will be able to ease restrictions by using proof of vaccination or testing results”.

Japan is battling with the fifth wave of coronavirus.

Biden announces new vaccine requirements for US workers

US President Joe Biden has announced new measures to boost COVID vaccination rates in the country.

Biden asked federal employees to get vaccinated and also charged large employers with more than 100 employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly for the virus.

“I’m announcing that the Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule to require all employers with 100 or more employees that together employ over 80 million workers to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week,” Biden said.

Ten dead as fire guts temporary COVID hospital Macedonia

At least 10 people were reported dead after fire gutted a temporary hospital treating COVID-19 patients in northern Macedonia.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the fire broke out in Tetovo, northwest of the country, adding that an explosion sparked off the fire.

“A huge tragedy has occurred in the Tetovo COVID-19 centre. An explosion caused a fire. The fire was extinguished but many lives were lost,” Zaev said.

Nigeria records 727 COVID cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 727 cases of coronavirus were recorded on Thursday.

The agency said the infections were reported in 17 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Rivers, Nigeria’s oil-rich state, recorded the highest figure with 257 infections, followed by Lagos with 157 cases.

Other states are Edo (85), Imo (63), FCT (33), Delta (28), Kaduna (27), Benue (17), Akwa Ibom (13), Ekiti (13), Taraba (12), Bayelsa (5), Kano (4), Ogun (4), Oyo (3), Abia (2), Nasarawa (2) and Plateau (2).

The NCDC said 218 patients were discharged, while seven persons succumbed to the infection.

To date, Nigeria’s COVID-19 statistics stand as follows: 197,773 confirmed cases, 185,597 recoveries and 2,585 deaths.

Amazon to cut cost of COVID PCR test kits

Amazon, a US-based multinational technology company, says it will cut the cost of its direct-to-consumer COVID-19 PCR test collection kit to $36.99 — a reduction of $3.

The company said the price cut is the result of a public-private partnership with the Biden administration.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA