NCDC: 29 cases of UK COVID variant confirmed in Nigeria

Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says 29 cases of the COVID variant first reported in the UK, have been confirmed in five states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The UK variant, which is said to present severe complications, was first recorded in Nigeria in January.

Speaking at the media briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 held on Monday, he noted that there was a likelihood that more cases would be detected in Nigeria.

“We have now confirmed a total of 29 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, and this has been confirmed in Edo, Kwara, Lagos, Osun, Oyo and the FCT,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NCDC has announced plans to launch a uniform platform to verify COVID-19 tests done in accredited laboratories, as part of efforts to curb the proliferation of fake results.

The PTF had directed that intending travellers must subject themselves to COVID-19 tests to encourage early detection and curtail the spread of the virus.

Ihekweazu said the verification platform would be ready next week, while this week has been set aside to get concerned laboratories to connect to the platform.

“In response to the validity of the test result coming out of Nigeria, we’d like to announce that in the next week, we will launch a verification platform through which people can verify any result coming from any lab in Nigeria,” he said.

“Any lab that is not connected to the platform by the end of the week will be discontinued from providing testing for private individuals that want to travel or for any other reason.”