Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC reports 107 new infections — but no fatalities

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 107 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday.

Uganda reports first seven cases of Omicron variant

Uganda has confirmed first seven cases of the Omicron COVID variant.

Charles Olaro, the director of clinical services, on Tuesday, said the variant was detected in travellers from South Africa and Nigeria who arrived in Uganda on November 29.

“We have already notified them about their status and they are already in isolation,” he said.

The director said the first tests done on the travellers after arrival at Entebbe International Airport showed they were positive for the coronavirus, and further testing confirmed the new variant.

Spain approves COVID vaccination of five to 11 year olds

Spain will begin a vaccination campaign for children aged between five and 11 after the Pfizer vaccine was approved by its vaccination committee, for that population.

The children will be given one third of the dose that older people receive, and then a second dose of the vaccine eight weeks later. 

The campaign will begin on December 15 and it will be up to regional governments to decide whether to roll out the vaccination campaign in schools or not.

Poland to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for workers

Poland is introducing mandatory vaccinations for teachers, medical workers, and uniformed security workers like the police, the military, firefighters and security guards.

Adam Niedzielski, the country’s health minister, said on Tuesday that after March 1, vaccination will be a condition for jobs in these sectors.

He said starting December 15, the number of guests at hotels, restaurants, eateries, theaters and churches will be reduced to 30 percent capacity from the current 50 percent, and can be increased only for people who can prove they are vaccinated. Discos and nightclubs will be closed.

Nigeria records 107 COVID cases

Nigeria has recorded 107 new cases of COVID-19 in seven states and the federal capital territory.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed this in its update for December 7.

According to the data provided by the agency, the states that recorded infections are the FCT (38), Oyo (21), Rivers (17), Edo (13), Delta (7), Enugu (4), Zamfara (4), and Plateau (3).

The NCDC said the reported cases include those reported for Delta state for December 6 (4) and December 7 (3); four confirmed cases reported for Enugu state for December 6, and one discharged case reported for Enugu state for December 6.

The NCDC said there were no deaths on Monday, leaving the total number of fatalities at 2,980.

Also, 17 people were discharged on Monday after recovering from the infection.

To date, 214,896 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Nigeria with 207,495 discharges made.

Omicron COVID variant appears more transmissible than Delta, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, says the Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to be “more transmissible” than Delta.

The prime minister spoke to his cabinet on the latest COVID situation. After the cabinet meeting, his official spokesman said: “The prime minister said it was too early to draw conclusions on the characteristics of Omicron but early indications were that it is more transmissible than Delta.”

But the spokesman said there was no debate around the cabinet table on whether to introduce Plan B to control the virus.