COVID-19: Nigeria records 1,138 new infections; total now 134,690

By ABUJAH RACHEAL

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 1,138 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 134,690.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has so far tested 1,302,410  people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 27, 2020.

The Nigerian public health agency also confirmed additional five coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,613 in the country.

It noted that the additional 1,138 new COVID-19 infections were from 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC stated that Lagos state, recorded the highest number of confirmed cases with 377, taking the total number of cases in the state to 50,318, FCT  came second with 172 new infections taking the total number of cases in the FCT to 17,243.

Other states with new infections were Plateau 86, Kano 84, Edo 60, Osun 47, Nasarawa 41, Imo 40, Rivers 36, Niger 32, Oyo 32, Borno 29, Kaduna 27, Delta 18, Kwara 17, Cross River 9, Ekiti 8, Bauchi 7, Ogun 7, Sokoto 6 and Bayelsa 3.

The health agency said that the number of recoveries currently stood at 108,657, with additional 1,106 people discharged across the country in the last 24 hours.

The NCDC noted that today’s discharge included 476 community recoveries in Lagos State and 121 in Plateau State managed in line with guidelines.

It said that Home-based care was to be provided by a designated care giver to COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms, with support from trained health workers.

“Patients and caregivers must adhere to infection prevention and control measures to limit transmission,” it noted.

NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, was coordinating response activities nationwide.

Meanwhile, the NCDC said that the Compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures was a collective responsibility.

“Cloth masks provide protection when properly worn and cared for.

“Wear mask covering your nose and mouth.

“Handle mask with clean hands.

“Wash cloth face masks after each use,” it advised. (NAN)