Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records 121 new infections, and Slovakia PM resigns over vaccine scandal

Igor Matovic, Slovakia’s prime minister, and his government resigned on Tuesday over Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine deal scandal. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday. 

Israel reopens Taba border crossing with Egypt

Israel on Tuesday reopened the Taba border crossing with Egypt after it was closed owing to COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuesday’s move now allows a limited number of people to cross to the Sinai Peninsula during the Passover holiday.

From Tuesday through April 12, 300 Israelis will be allowed through Taba in each direction every day.

But to cross, individuals must have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. A negative COVID-19 test is also required in both directions.

Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is said to be a popular vacation spot for Israelis, especially during Passover, which marks the exodus of Jews from Egypt.

WHO chief calls for further investigation into COVID-19 origin

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), says there will be further investigation into the origin of COVID-19 and its transmission to humans.

After concluding investigations into the origins of the coronavirus, a WHO team composed of 17 international experts said in a report that it was  “extremely unlikely”  that the virus emanated from a Chinese laboratory.

But commenting on the team’s investigation, Ghebreyesus said the theory that the virus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, cannot be completely ruled out yet.

He expressed readiness to deploy another team of scientists to carry out more research.

Slovakia’s prime minister steps down over Sputnik V vaccine deal scandal

Igor Matovic, Slovakia’s prime minister, and his government resigned on Tuesday to ease a political crisis caused by a secret deal to buy Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

Slovakia is said to be the first European government to collapse owing to its handling of the pandemic.

President Zuzana Caputova accepted the resignation and asked Eduard Heger who served as finance minister and deputy prime minister in the outgoing parliament to form a new government to avoid an early election.

The political crisis erupted when a secret deal came to light at the beginning of March — involving Slovakia’s agreement to acquire two million doses of Sputnik V.

At least six cabinet members had already resigned from their posts.

The deal to purchase Sputnik V vaccines was conducted despite disagreement by Matovic’s coalition allies, the Freedom and Solidarity party and For People party.

Nigeria records 121 fresh COVID infections 

Nigeria on Tuesday maintained a relatively low single-day count of COVID-19 cases with 121 fresh infections.

Tuesday’s infections were reported in 13 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that 1,066 persons were discharged, after recovering from the virus, bringing the total discharged to 151,532 persons.

The recoveries include 977 community recoveries in FCT and 57 in Imo state.

The agency confirmed that seven persons died as a result of COVID-19 complications, bringing the country’s casualty toll to 2,056 deaths.

So far, the country has tested 1,767,694 samples, and 10,126 patients are active.

121 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-40
FCT-15
Katsina-12
Kaduna-11
Imo-8
Kebbi-8
Nasarawa-8
Delta-7
Edo-3
Osun-3
Rivers-3
Ekiti-1
Jigawa-1
Kano-1

162,762 confirmed
151,532 discharged
2,056 deaths pic.twitter.com/oolLF2hbtK

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 30, 2021

Canadian leader caution residents over rising COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA