Osinbajo, governors express concern over rising COVID-19 cases

The National Economic Council (NEC) has expressed concern over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

On Thursday, the country recorded 930 new COVID-19 cases, while there has been a huge surge of infections in the past one week.

The NEC held its monthly meeting on Thursday, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

In a statement after the meeting, Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the vice-president on media, said the council was alarmed that the current trends are surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown.

“Today at its monthly meeting, the National Economic Council, NEC, received a briefing on the coronavirus disease pandemic in Nigeria and notes with serious concern the increasing number of cases in many States across the country,” the statement reads.

“NEC is alarmed that the current trends are now approaching or surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown imposed at the height of the epidemic earlier in the year.

“The trends also show that more and more younger people are getting infected. While many of the young victims may be asymptomatic or recover without serious illness, they pass the virus to older and more vulnerable people, especially people with pre-existing health conditions, who develop serious illnesses and may easily lose their lives in the process.

“Sadly, the country is now experiencing a huge resurgence of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care and the existing health facilities are fast becoming overwhelmed.

“NEC notes that this increase is being accelerated by non-compliance with the non-pharmaceutical interventions advised by government, including the wearing of masks, limiting of gatherings, especially indoors and the washing/sanitisation of hands.

“NEC, therefore, wishes to reemphasise the importance of these measures. Particularly as we approach the end of the year and the social gatherings associated with the holiday season, we must avoid activities or behaviour that may aggravate the situation and necessitate another lockdown.”

The council also enlarged its COVID-19 ad-hoc committee led by Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, and mandated them to consider and propose additional measures to manage the current situation.