Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records 48 infections — but zero deaths

Nigeria recorded 48 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Thursday. 

States to reintroduce COVID protocol to prevent third wave

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says states will reintroduce measures for curbing the spread of the coronavirus to prevent a third wave of infections.

This was part of the resolutions reached by the governors after a meeting on Wednesday.

The decision was taken following a presentation by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, on the concerns about a third wave of infections in the state.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Kayode Fayemi, chairman of the forum, said the governors also agreed to liaise with the federal government on ways to speed up the procurement of additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Nigeria records 48 COVID cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 48 COVID-19 cases across seven states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on Wednesday.

The latest figure brings the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 168,915.

The states that reported positive samples to include Ondo (14), Oyo (10), Gombe (6), FCT (5), Ogun (4), Delta (3), Ekiti (3), and Rivers (3).

The agency said Wednesday’s report does not include data from Lagos state.

Twelve persons were discharged, while no death was recorded on Wednesday.

Nigeria has a total of 164,623 recoveries and 2,125 deaths across 36 states and the FCT.

Haiti receives 500,000 COVID vaccine doses from US

Haiti on Wednesday received its first 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the US through the COVAX facility.

The shipment is part of the US pledge to donate millions of vaccine doses to poor and middle-income countries to boost their effort in tackling the pandemic.

According to Reuters, the country is yet to commence a national vaccine campaign.

Haiti was thrown into political turmoil last week after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

WHO warns of ‘catastrophic’ spike in the Middle-East

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a spike in COVID cases in several Middle-East countries.

The agency said Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia are witnessing a surge in infections.

WHO said urgent measures must be put in place to tackle the spread of the Delta variant to avert a “catastrophic consequence”.

“WHO is concerned that the current COVID-19 upsurge may continue to peak in the coming weeks, with catastrophic consequences,” the agency’s regional office said.

Okowa advises Nigerians to get vaccinated

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, has called on Nigerians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to curtail the spread of the Delta strain of the virus which has been recorded in the country.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Okowa said the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is safe for Nigerians.

“But we have to up the campaign as we are expecting many more vaccines at the end of July, the first week of August; which is going to run into a few more millions; so we just have to keep the campaign going,” he said.

“I want to reassure Nigerians that the AstraZeneca vaccine and all other vaccines, have been proven very safe; the adverse effect following vaccination actually has been very minimal.

“There’s been no reported death following vaccination, and we have all taken it; our first and second doses and we are well.’’

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA