Just In: FG Moves To Re-open COVID-19 Isolation Centers Nationwide

The federal government of Nigeria has put all COVID-19 isolation centers nationwide on a re-opening alert over the recent increases in daily records of Coronavirus infection.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made this known on Thursday while speaking at the presidential task force on COVID-19 briefing.

The Minister noted that the recent surge in daily numbers of confirmed infections might be a pointer that Nigeria is on the verge of a second wave of infection.

He said everyone has a responsibility to ensure the second wave doesn’t overwhelm the country and its health practitioners and facilities.

In his words, “We are seeing the increase in the number of confirmed covid19 cases in the last few days, which we have frequently alluded to in recent times. This rightly suggests that we may just be on the verge of a second wave of this pandemic. Last week, we recorded 1843 against 1,235 two weeks before that and 1,126 the week before that.”

“In the past 24 hours, 474 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded, with an indication that this week’s figure will beat last week’s. As at today, we have crossed 70,000 mark with a total of 70,669 confirmed cases of which 65,242 have been treated and discharged. Sadly the number of deaths has now reached 1184 as against 1,167 two weeks before.”

“Everyone of us has a role to play in the effort to prevent explosive spread of this infection in Nigeria. While we strive for the best, we must prepare for a possible second wave which we must ensure, does not get to be worse than what we have seen so far, judging from what we observe in other countries.”

“The US, UK and other countries are going through very difficult times, and we do sympathize with them. To prepare ourselves, I have directed that all Isolation and Treatment Centres, which were hitherto closed due to reduced patient load, to be prepared for reopening and the staff complement put on alert.”

Naija News reports the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday evening, 9th December 2020, confirmed 474 new cases of Coronavirus disease infection in Nigeria.

The development brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 70,669 which includes 65,242 discharged cases and 1,184 deaths.