Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC records 18 deaths as cases surge

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 122 COVID-19 cases. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday.

Biden to share 25 million COVID vaccine doses with world

President Joe Biden has announced plans to share the first 25 million unused COVID-19 vaccine doses with the rest of the world.

In a statement on Thursday, Biden said 75 percent of these doses will be shared with the United Nations-backed COVAX while the rest will go directly to countries in need.

“We are sharing these vaccines to save lives and to lead the world in bringing an end to the pandemic, with the power of our example and with our values,” he said.

Oyo farmers to get World Bank COVID intervention

Thousands of farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Oyo will receive the state government’s intervention sponsored by the World Bank.

The $750 million World Bank-funded project allows state governments in Nigeria to access funds for budgeted programmes targeted at responding to the economic impact of COVID-19.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative tagged ‘COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES)’, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, said the programme will benefit vulnerable crop and poultry farmers in the 33 council areas and 35 local council developing areas in the state.

WHO pledges to support Yobe in tackling COVID-19

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will support Yobe in tackling the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Richard Lako, WHO emergency manager in the north-east, said this during the sensitisation of 60 health workers on risk communication in Damaturu, Yobe state capital.

According to NAN, Lako who was represented by Ibrahim Salisu, WHO public health officer, said the trainees will revive wearing of face masks and observance of personal hygiene, which have been abandoned by residents.

Eighteen die of COVID-19 in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 18 people died of COVID-19 complications within 24 hours on Thursday.

The figure brings the total number of COVID death toll in the country to 2,117.

The NCDC said 122 cases were reported across eight states and the federal capital territory (FCT), raising the number of infections in the country to 166,682.

The states are Lagos (105) Imo (4) Kaduna (4) Akwa Ibom (3) FCT (2) Delta (1) Rivers (1) Oyo (1) Ekiti (1).

The agency said 2,575 people were discharged, bringing the total recoveries in the country to 162,521.

Vietnam approves Sinopharm vaccine for use

Vietnam has approved China’s Sinopharm vaccine for use against COVID-19.

The approval brings to three the number of COVID vaccine authorised in the country after AstraZeneca vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik V.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA