Nigeria records 290 new infections Monday as Task Force frowns at flouting of COVID-19 protocols at APC rally, Kashamu’s burial

• Total confirmed cases now 46,867 from 319,851 sample tests

As Nigeria recorded 290 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has expressed dismay at the non-compliance to the virus protocols at the flag off of All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship campaign in Edot State and burial of Senator Buruji Kashamu in Ogun State over the weekend. 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also warned that while facemask is an additional layer of protection when in public, the purpose is defeated when personal hygiene is poor and preventive measures are not been adhered to.

The NCDC said via its official Twitter handle that the 290 new infections for Monday was across 15 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and takes the total COVID-19 confirmed cases in Nigeria to 46,867.

The NCDC data shows that the 46,867 confirmed cases was out of the total 319,851 sample tests conducted across Nigeria’s 36 States and the FCT.

It also shows that 12,571 patients are on admission, 33,346 have been treated and discharged while 950 deaths recorded.

On Monday, the NCDC  data showed that Lagos and Plateau recorded the highest new infections of 82 each, Oyo – 19; FCT – 18; Edo – 16; Kaduna – 15; Enugu -9; Ogun – 9; Kano -8; Kwara – 8; Cross River -5; Ondo – 5; Rivers -5; Ekiti -4; Imo – 3 and Borno – 2.

Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, represented by Mrs. Elsie Ilori, the Head of Department, Surveillance and Epidemiology Department said on Monday that Nigerians must avoid large gatherings, practice personal hygiene and frequent washing our hands and maintaining physical distancing, if the virus is to be defeated in Nigeria. 

According to the DG, “lets wear our face masks properly please. Under the chin is not effective. Also below the nose will see some people create below the nose, that is not effective. You’re not protecting yourself. You might be covering your mouth, but you’re also taking in the air. So, you need to cover your nose and mouth that is when it is effective. When we are speaking, we should not do put it under our chin because we are infecting it.”