COVID-19: Coronavirus News Update For Saturday, May 16, 2020

Good day, Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top Coronavirus (COVID-19) news headlines for today Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Below is a roundup of top stories on the COVID-19 disease…

NCDC Reports 288 New Cases Of COVID-19

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, confirmed two hundred and eighty-eight new cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 5445 as reported by the NCDC.

Dokpesi Makes Shocking Revelation After Recovering From COVID-19

Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, on Friday announced that he has recovered from the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).

Naija News recalls that Dokpesi had three weeks ago tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

In a message on Friday, Dokpesi Jnr thanked the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the medical team at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital where he was treated, for their efforts.

He, however, said he was not given any documentary evidence of his status, and that he had to take it in good faith that he was COVID-19 positive.

Dokpesi said: “My sojourn at the Gwagwalada isolation centre was an eye-opening experience which imbued me with confidence in the unabated enthusiasm and commitment of Nigerian public health workers to serve and ensure the welfare of each of their patients.

“It was also an exposé into the practical limitations of the system in ensuring even with best intentions that public health objectives in the face of COVID-19 are achieved and sustained.

COVID-19: Osinbanjo Reveals When And How Coronavirus Pandemic Will End

The challenge of battling with a coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria has continued to give President Muhammadu Buhari led government sleepless night as the country records over five thousand cases.

However, expressing hope to the end, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a concerted effort in the fight against COVID-19.

Naija new Understands that Osinbajo made the call during an online event organized by the Global Citizen and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority to announce the establishment of a new funding vehicle, ‘Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund’ which would provide immediate and long-term support in tackling COVID-19.

He said, “The global COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant health, social and economic challenges across the world. The Federal Government of Nigeria instituted measures such as increasing access to testing, contact tracing and isolation and implementing social distancing to limit the potentially devastating impact of this deadly virus. But more support is needed.”