Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC reports 55 new infections — but no deaths

Nigeria on Sunday recorded 55 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Monday.

Hundreds of people protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Belgium

Hundreds of people marched through Central Brussels on Sunday to protest heightened COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Belgian government.

On Friday, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that kindergartens and primary schools will close for the holiday season a week early, and children from the age of six must now wear masks. Indoor events will only be allowed with a maximum of 200 people. Bars and restaurants were asked to close at 11 pm for three weeks.

The police were said to have used water canons to ward off the protesters.

WHO: COVID vaccine donations made by US not enough

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 technical lead, says the COVID-19 vaccine donations that the US have made are insufficient.

“Well, frankly, it’s not enough and we need it from more countries. We are incredibly grateful for what the United States has delivered, but we need that from other leaders around the world. We can’t have enough,” she said.

“Don’t get me wrong, what the United States is doing – we are very grateful for, but we need much more of it and we need it from around the world. You can’t protect only one country while the rest of the world suffers. It’s not how we are going to get out of this pandemic.”

Canada rejects COVID test results from 10 African countries

The Canadian government says it will not accept results of molecular COVID tests done in Nigeria and nine other African countries.

The other affected countries are Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The country said Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act who have been in the affected countries are allowed entry into Canada.

It, however, added that they will be required to obtain proof of a valid negative COVID test from a third country.

Nigeria records 55 COVID cases

Nigeria has recorded 55 new cases of COVID-19 in six states.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed this in its update for December 5.

According to the data provided by the agency, Lagos state recorded the highest number of cases with 37 new infections.

Edo (6), Osun (5), Oyo (4), Ogun (2), and Ekiti (1).

There were no fatalities from COVID on Monday, and the total number of deaths stands at 2,980.

Also, 23 people were discharged on Sunday after recovering from the infection.

To date, 214,622 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Nigeria with 207450 discharges made.

Senegal records first case of Omicron variant

Senegal has recorded its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The variant was detected in a tourist who attended a demonstration in the capital Dakar last month with about 300 people of varying nationalities.

The 58-year-old man was said to have been visiting from another West African country and tested positive when leaving Senegal on Friday and is under quarantine and has no symptoms, the lab said in a statement.

Later on Sunday two more Omicron cases were said to have been detected in travellers leaving Dakar.