Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records 49 infections, and UK warns Indian variant may delay June reopening

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 49 cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday. 

Bayelsa imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew

The Bayelsa government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew as part of renewed efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Ayebaina Duba, commissioner for information, orientation and strategy, who announced the development on Friday, said the curfew will take effect from May 16 and will be in force until further notice.

He added that movement within and out of the state through the major entry points — including Bayelsa/Delta states boundary at Adagbabiri, GloryLand Drive at Igbogene and Bayelsa/Rivers states boundary at Mbiama — are prohibited during the hours of the curfew.

No Indian COVID-19 variant in Edo

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says there is no record of Indian COVID-19 variant in the state, as was rumoured on social media.

Obaseki stated this at a media briefing in Benin while giving updates on COVID-19 response in the state on Friday.

The governor who was represented by Osamwonyi Irowa, permanent secretary, ministry of health said sample of the rumoured variant was collected in January.

“We as government, we have reached out to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with regards to any Indian variant in Edo and the verified information reveals that the said sample was collected in January,” he said.

WHO asks rich countries to donate vaccine to poor nations before vaccinating children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked wealthy countries to consider donating the COVID-19 vaccine to poorer nations instead of proceeding with vaccination for children.

Speaking during a virtual conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said supply has not been in enough in poor countries, adding that donating vaccines to them will address a gulf in vaccination rates.

“I understand why some countries want to vaccinate their children and adolescents, but right now I urge them to reconsider and to instead donate vaccines to COVAX,” he said.

“In low and lower-middle-income countries, COVID-19 vaccine supply has not been enough to even immunise healthcare workers, and hospitals are being inundated with people that need lifesaving care urgently.”

Although Tedros did not mention any specific country, Canada and the US are among the countries that have authorised vaccines for use in adolescents in recent weeks.

Nigeria records 49 COVID cases

The NCDC on Friday recorded 49 cases of COVID-19 in five states.

According to the agency’s update for May 14, Enugu recorded 22 infections followed by Lagos with 18 cases and Rivers with 6 infections.

Other states that recorded new infections are Akwa Ibom with 2 new infections and Edo with 1 case.

No deaths were reported on Friday.

Meanwhile, 12 people were discharged after recovering from the virus.

According to NCDC, to date, 165,661 cases have been confirmed, 156,399 persons have been discharged and 2,066 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

UK warns Indian COVID variant could delay June reopening

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, says the Indian COVID-19 variant could pose a “serious disruption” to lifting all COVID restriction in England by June.

In a four-step plan released in February, all social contact limits were to be removed by June 21 including the full reopening of the economy.

But speaking at a Downing Street briefing on Friday, Johnson said if the variant is found to be “significantly” more transmissible there could be “some hard choices”.

“I have to level with you that this new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress and could make it more difficult to move to step four in June,” he said.

He added: “But I urge everyone to exercise the greatest caution because the choices we each make in the coming days will have a material effect on the road ahead.”

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA