Nigeria recorded six COVID-19 infections on Friday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday.
WHO backs use of Paxlovid for COVID treatment
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of Paxlovid for the treatment of COVID-19.
Paxlovid – a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir – is an oral antiviral drug developed by Pfizer.
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According to the WHO, a research found that the medication cut the likelihood of high-risk patients being admitted to hospital by 85 percent.
The UN health agency said the drug should be used for people with mild and moderate COVID-19 but at risk of hospital admission, adding that it is the “best therapeutic choice for high-risk patients to date”.
Nasarawa commences implementation of N8.3bn NG-CARES programme
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The Nasarawa state government has commenced the implementation of N8.3 billion Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme for poor and vulnerable persons.
Umar Dahiru, Nasarawa coordinator of NG-CARES, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Friday.
The World Bank, federal government, and state governments collaborated to establish the programme, which is state-focused.
Dahiru said the fund will be used to counteract the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects, particularly on the poor and vulnerable.
“We are starting with 43,000 persons in the next six months and in the next two years, all the 120,000 persons will benefit,” he said.
EU regulator backs use of Pfizer COVID vaccine as booster for all other brands
A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee has backed the use of Pfizer and BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for adults who have been vaccinated with other vaccine brands.
The vaccine has already been approved in the United States as a booster after two shots of any other type of COVID vaccine.
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Nigeria logs six COVID infections
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded six cases of COVID-19.
The agency in its updates for April 22, 2022, said the infections were logged in four states.
Lagos and Rivers recorded two infections each, while Bauchi and Nasarawa logged one case respectively.
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Four persons were discharged after they recovered from the infection.
According to the NCDC data, no person died of COVID complications.
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Nigeria now has a total of 255,685 confirmed cases, 249,890 recoveries and 3,143 fatalities.
Singapore to lift most COVID curbs on April 26
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Singapore has announced plans to remove most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions from April 26.
According to the health ministry, this will include easing entry requirements for travellers.
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The measures will also include lifting limits on group sizes and allowing employees to return to work in full.
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