Nigeria Centre on Thursday recorded 604 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 38,948.
This is as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has appealed to all State governments to ban all Sallah activities to curtail the spread of the virus during the major religious celebrations.
The Sallah celebrations which comes with two days of Public Holidays is scheduled for next week.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC) said via its official Twitter handle that 20 deaths was recorded in the country on Thursday due to complications of the virus.
The NCDC noted that out of the 38,948 confirmed cases, 16,061 have been treated and discharged while 833 deaths was recorded in 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The health agency data also showed that the 604 new infections was reported in 20 States and the FCT, with Lagos State, the country’s epicentre of the disease, having the highest number of infected people (203).
The NCDC breakdown shows that Oyo recorded 87 new cases, FCT – 79, Edo – 41, Osun – 35, Ogun – 24, Rivers – 22, Kaduna – 22, Akwa Ibom – 20, Plateau – 18, Delta – 9, Ebonyi – 9, Imo – 8, Enugu – 5, Kano – 5, Cross River – 5, Katsina – 4, Nasarawa – 3, Borno – 2, Ekiti – 2, and Bauchi – 1.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha has appealed to all State governments to ban all Sallah celebrations as a way of curtailing the spread of the virus.
Mustapha cautioned, “We also have cause to begin to advise Nigerians on the upcoming Eid-El Kabir Festival. This naturally comes with lots of mass gatherings but we must not forget that the guidelines are still in existence and the virus is very potent.
“We urge all State Governments to ensure that guidelines are adhered to and citizens should not indulge in activities that would allow for the spread of the virus and lives are endangered.
“We are encouraged by State Governments that have announced ban on Sallah Festivities and hope it will be upheld and replicated by other States.”
