COVID-19 Nigeria Update Today

Good day. Here are the updates for COVID-19 in Nigeria today April 12, 2020.

Nigeria now has 318 cases

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced thirteen new cases. This takes the number of cases to 318. According to the government agency, out of the new cases, eleven are from Lagos, one in Delta and Kano respectively. seventy people have been discharged so far nationwide with ten deaths recorded.

The addition of Kano makes the affected states nineteen including the Federal Capital Territory. Lagos which is the epicentre has 174 cases, followed by the FCT- 56; Osun- 20; Edo- 12; Oyo- 11; Ogun- 7; Bauchi- 6; Kaduna- 6; Akwa Ibom- 5; Katsina-4; Delta- 3; Enugu- 2; Ekiti- 2; Rivers-2; Kwara- 2; Ondo- 2; Benue,Niger, Anambra and Kano have one each.

Buhari extends lockdown

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the ongoing lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos and Ogun States may continue for as long as necessary.

The President also gave a hint on Saturday that the lockdown may even be extended to more states as the cases in the country continues to increase.

Obiano, Bello order total lockdown over index cases

Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano has ordered that the state be shut down immediately.

The governor added that violators of the lockdown will be arrested and an aggressive contact tracing has begun to ensure that everyone he came in contact with is brought into the net for a professional handling that will save lives.

READ: Buhari Extends Lockdown in Lagos, Ogun And Abuja [Full Text]

The same move was made by his Niger counterpart, Abubakar Bello after confirming the index case in the state. Having relaxed the curfew earlier placed in the state, he said the total lockdown will take effect on Monday 13th of April as people were allowed to go to the market and get foodstuffs and other neccessities.

One passenger on tricycle in Kano

Meanwhile, Kano Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has directed tricycle operators in the state to carry only one passenger for now following the detection of its index case of coronavirus in the state.

According to the governor, the patient is a former ambassador.

NCDC speaks on global shortage of medical supplies

Meanwhile, the NCDC has said that Nigeria is developing in-country manufacturing capacity of medical supplies due to its global shortage.

They, therefore advised Nigerians to use the limited consumables such as face masks judiciously and also bear in mind that this is not a time for hoarding or profit-making.”

The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu also said the agency currently has 17 rapid response teams supporting states in the response to COVID-19.

“Through our response to COVID-19, we are working hard to change the narrative in Africa. Nigerian Government remains in full support of our healthcare workers who are critical to the COVID-19 response.

“We are doing our best to learn about this new virus and our health workers are working very hard. We need the support of all Nigerians to contain this.”

 

Coronavirus vaccine may be ready soon

An Oxford University professor, Sarah Gilbert, has said that a vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready within the next five months.

Gilbert, who is a professor of vaccinology is “80% confident” that the vaccine being developed by her team will work. Her team has been working across the world working round the clock to find a vaccine for the dreaded virus that has killed over 100,000 people around the world.

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