Travels, school reopening triggered COVID-19 surge – PTF

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 mentions travels, reopening of schools, businesses, and religious centers as factors that contributed to the rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known on Monday during a media briefing in Abuja.

He said, “It is however very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rise in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities, reopening of schools without strict compliance with COIVID-19 safety measures.

“The full import of the fore-going is to press further on the need for us all to elevate the level of our vigilance and compliance with the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said that confirmed cases of coronavirus have risen to 100,087 in the country.

This is coming 45 weeks after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case on February 27, 2020, according to data available on NCDC’s website on Monday, January 11.

The agency also said that out of the total 100,087 COVID-19 cases, 80,030 patients have been discharged while 1,358 are dead.

The data also showed that there are 18,699 active cases in Nigeria, with Lagos and FCT having 6,858 and 5,563 respectively.

Data from the NCDC’s website also revealed that the country recorded 1,024 new cases in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory on January 10, 2020.

The NCDC said, “On the 10th of January 2021, 1024 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

“Till date, 100087 cases have been confirmed, 80030 cases have been discharged and 1358 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The 1024 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos (653), Plateau (63), Benue (48), Zamfara (45), FCT (42), Rivers (27), Ondo (26), Adamawa (26), Kaduna (22), Edo (18), Ogun (16), Imo (12), Kano (9), Yobe (6), Ekiti (5), Jigawa (4) and Osun (2).

“A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre, activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.”