Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records 37 infections, and South Africa to resume rollout of J&J jab

Nigeria on Monday recorded 37 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Tuesday. 

Nigeria to receive 29.8m doses of J&J vaccine

The federal government says it signed off to receive 29.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through the African Union (AU).

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), disclosed this at a media briefing on Monday.

Shuaib said apart from the expected doses, the government will preserve 50 percent of available AstraZeneca vaccine in Nigeria for administration of second doses because of delay in supply of vaccines.

He added that more vaccines are also expected through the United Nations-led COVAX facility before the end of June.

FG to issue new travel advisory amid COVID surge in India

The federal government says it will issue a new travel advisory within 48 to 72 hours for travellers coming into the country from regions where there is a surge in COVID infections.

Mukhtar Mohammed, secretary of the presidential steering committee (PSC) on COVID-19, said this on Monday.

Mohammed hinted that the government may impose travel restrictions on travellers from India, Turkey, Brazil and South Africa — where there has been a spike in infections.

Nigeria records 37 COVID cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded 37 cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

The total number of confirmed cases in country now stands at 164,756.

The new cases were reported in six states — Lagos (26), Ogun (4) Kaduna (2) Rivers (2), Kwara (2) and Edo (1).

There was no data on Monday for the federal capital territory (FCT) which is the second worst-hit state by the pandemic.

Also, there was no COVID deaths on Monday and the fatality figure stands at 2,062.

Thirty-seven people were discharged on Monday, bringing the total recoveries to 154,963.

Nigeria has so far tested 1,912,628 samples, but 7,731 are active cases.

FG will not accept COVID-19 vaccines from unverified sources 

The federal government says it will not accept COVID-19 vaccines from private and unverified sources.

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, said the decision followed reports of fake COVID vaccines in circulation.

“Due to warnings by international police organisations on the high rate of fake COVID-19 vaccines said to be  in circulation, and reports of risks of adverse events reported after vaccination, Nigeria will not accept vaccines from private and unverified sources,” the minster said. 

He added that the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is pursuing initiatives to test and authorise more vaccines for use in the country.

South Africa to resume vaccine rollout with J&J jab 

South Africa says it will resume its vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

South Africa suspended the rollout of the J&J vaccine in the “implementation study” after US health agencies paused its use owing to rare cases of blood clots.

The US later lifted the pause on the vaccine last Friday.

South Africa said it will resume rollout of the single-dose vaccine starting from Wednesday.

Today we are pleased to announce that, following SAHPRA’s recommendation on 17 April 2021 and Cabinet’s concurrence on 21 April 2021, the vaccine rollout will re- sume through the Sisonke Programme on Wednesday, 28 April 2021 #vaccine #VaccineRolloutSA pic.twitter.com/wOrZ68THaz

— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) April 26, 2021

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA