Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records one death — after 12 days of zero fatality

Nigeria on Sunday reported one death from COVID — after 12 consecutive days of zero fatalities. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Monday. 

Peru ex-president tests positive for COVID-19

Martín Vizcarra, former Peru president, who was banned earlier this month from holding public office for 10 years, has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Despite the necessary care to avoid bringing the virus home, my wife and I have tested positive for COVID and are symptomatic,” Vizcarra said in a tweet update on Sunday.

“My family is taking the necessary isolation measures. Let’s not lower our guard.”

Vizcarra was banned after he allegedly jumped the queue to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in 2020.

Congress members approved his ban by 86 votes in favour and zero against.

Vizcarra was found guilty of influence peddling, collusion and making false declarations in relation to Peru’s VIP vaccines scandal.

Several countries to help India fight rapid COVID-19 cases

Several countries have expressed willingness to send supplies to help India fight the rapid COVID-19 cases.

The US on Sunday said it will deploy drug treatments, rapid diagnostic COVID-19 testing kits, ventilators, personal protective equipment and oxygen supplies to India.

Ursula von der Leyen, chief of European Commission, said the organisation was “pooling resources to respond rapidly to India’s request for assistance”.

Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support.

The EU is pooling resources to respond rapidly to India’s request for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

We stand in full solidarity with the Indian people! https://t.co/Pv8ezFPdS3

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— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 25, 2021

Last week, the UK and China said they will assist India in curtailing the spike in infections.

India is witnessing a second wave and has seen a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, and battling oxygen shortage for patients.

The country’s healthcare centres are reportedly filled and struggling to cope with the daily records of infections.

Nigeria records 35 COVID infections —but one death

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country recorded 35 fresh coronavirus infections on Sunday.

The latest cases of COVID-19 were recorded in five states and the federal capital territory (FCT), according to the agency’s update for April 25.

But it added that Sunday’s report includes data from Oyo state — reported over the past two days.

States that recorded new positive samples are Lagos (18), Rivers (7), Oyo (6), FCT (2), Ekiti (1), and Kaduna (1).

After 12 days of reporting zero deaths, one person was said to have died of COVID-19 complications on Sunday.

This raises the total number of coronavirus fatalities in the country to 2,062.

Also, 239 persons were discharged on Sunday after recovering from the infection — including 215 community recoveries in Oyo state managed in line with guidelines.

A total of 164,719 COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed in the country, out of which 154,926 patients have recovered.

82 killed in Iraq COVID-19 hospital fire

At least 82 people were killed and more than 100 injured following a fire incident that broke out at a COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) in Baghdad hospital.

The fire reportedly erupted on Saturday night at the Ibn al-Khatib Hospital in the Iraqi capital, after an oxygen tank exploded.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi suspended top government officials including Hassan al-Tamimi, the health minister.

Man arrested for infecting 22 people in COVID-19 in Spain