The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has conducted close to 2 million COVID-19 tests in the country since Feb. 27, 2020. They disclosed this information through their official Twitter account.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the health agency tested over 30,000 samples for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the space of one week.
The agency said that the tests were carried out in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, since the beginning of the pandemic in the country.
The NCDC disclosed that an additional 70 people across the country were affected, bringing the number of nationwide infections to 164,303 as of April. 19, 2021.
The NCDC stated that the additional 70 infections were registered from five states – Lagos with 27 infections, Kaduna and Ondo, each with 16 cases, Yobe, with 6, and Bauchi, with 5 cases.
The agency reported that additional 52 people have been discharged after testing negative to the disease, with no Covid-19 related deaths reported as of April 19, 2021.
The cumulative number of recoveries in the country currently stands at 154,384, while the death toll is at 2,061.
The NCDC said, however, that the country’s active caseload increased by 18 on Monday, April 19th in addition to the 7,840 previously reported on Sunday, April 18th, the day before.
CONTINUED EFFORTS TOWARDS COVID-19 RESPONSE
The NCDC noted that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.
It stated that since the start of the outbreak, the agency has worked tirelessly to achieve testing for the virus through the rapid expansion of laboratories across the country and increased surveillance activities.
“This has enabled the prompt detection of cases reported, even at our points of entry,” it explained.
The agency said that the reality of decreased transmission, test positivity rate and confirmed cases in the country does not mean that Nigerians should let their guard down.
It said there is the need for a stricter adherence to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) such as; the proper use of face masks, frequent handwashing and maintenance of physical distance of at least two meters.
Meanwhile, the agency said that getting the COVID-19 vaccine “is a step towards protecting yourself, your loved ones and fellow Nigerians. It’s a step towards helping us finally get back to the things we love.
The health agency advised on Monday:
“As of today, all people aged 18 and above are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. We have real-world data that the COVID-19 vaccines work. One of the most important things we all can do to protect our loved ones and to get back to the things we love is to get vaccinated,”
By Oluwamayowa Akinyemi
Oluwamayowa Akinyemi is a digital and web content developer with experience in web content development and management as well as research and writing. He is an avid reader of random subject matters and a sucker for movies and video games. He is also passionate about youth empowerment and is a global affairs analyst and enthusiast.
