Doctor dies of Coronavirus infection in Katsina as cases hit 254

A Nigerian doctor in Katsina, identified as Dr Aliyu Yakubu, has died from Coronavirus infection bringing the death toll to six.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the increase in the number of fatalities from the pandemic in a tweet on Tuesday evening, as the agency also noted 16 new cases bringing the top toll to 254  cases,

The latest fatality from the disease was recorded in Daura, a town in Katsina State.

Yakubu, according to Governor Aminu Masari who briefed reporters earlier at the Government House in Katsina, died on Saturday last week.

He passed just days before the NCDC confirmed that he had been infected with coronavirus.

The doctor was hospitalised at the Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital for about two hours before he died, following his return from a trip to Lagos.

On his way back, he was said to have stopped in Kogi State – his home – where he spent two weeks before returning to Daura.

As part of measures to contain further spread of COVID-19 in Katsina, Governor Masari had directed that all Yakubu’s contacts be identified by health officials from the state Ministry of Health.

He also asked that their blood samples be collected for laboratory testing between Tuesday evening and Wednesday.