- NCDC worried about increasing new COVID-19 cases
- Asks Nigerians who test positive not to panic
Nigeria on Friday recorded 387 new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, bringing the total number of infections to 9,302.
Out of the total number of infections, 2,679 patients have been treated and discharged. However, a total of 261 deaths have been recorded.
In the same vein, the total number of active COVID-19 cases is now 6,344.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on its official Twitter handle that the 387 new cases were spread across 13 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Lagos State accounting for the highest number of infections with 254 cases.
NCDC said that the figures for the remaining 12 States are, FCT (29), Jigawa (24), Edo (22), Oyo (15), Rivers (14), Kaduna (11), Borno (6), Kano (3), Plateau (2), Yobe (2), Gombe (2), Bauchi (2) and Ondo (1).
NCDC had said that while most of those who died were associated with co-morbidities, it found out that three out of four of those who had been discharged were without co-morbidities.
According to the health agency, “this is consistent with the fact that risks are higher for those with other illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and other chronic non-communicable diseases. There is general reduction in mortality trend and continuous improvement in recoveries as shown in discharges compared to the increase in number of confirmed cases.
“Though not surprising, we are concerned about the increasing number of confirmed cases. This is because very high cases could seriously exceed the capacity of our health system to cope. Routine cases may also suffer as a result.”
NCDC said that after the COVID-19 test result had been communicated to effected persons, they should continue to adhere to preventive measures and guidelines.
“If you test positive, please do not panic. You will be transferred to an isolation centre for your health and that of those around you,” it said.
The agency said that majority of COVID-19 patients would show mild symptoms and recover.
“The current national case management protocol is for all cases to be managed by a team of clinicians in an isolation centre to ensure optimal care and to prevent further spread of the disease,” it said.
Statistics show that Nigeria has conducted about 58,726 COVID-19 tests in the country. Out of this number, 68 per cent were males and 32 per cent were females.
The figures also shows that the most affected aged groups were between 31 and 40, who make up 25 per cent of the total number of confirmed cases.