Two additional fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic were announced on Friday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In addition, 197 fresh cases were reported across five states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC disclosed in its daily Covid-19 report on Saturday morning.

The 197 additional cases reported on Friday indicate an increase from the 47 cases reported in the country on Friday, December 3.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that the omicron variant, now detected in 38 countries, appears to be more contagious than the Covid-19 delta variant.

“Omicron has some 30 mutations on the spike protein, which is the mechanism used to bind to human cells.

“Some of these mutations are associated with higher transmission and the ability to escape immune protection,” WHO had said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Public Health Institute said the country’s fatality toll from the disease now stood at 2,980.

The NCDC added that to date, 214, 513 cases had been confirmed with 207,403 cases discharged and 2,980 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Lagos is reported to have 138 cases; Rivers -23; FCT – 18; Imo – 15; Bauchi – 1 and Gombe -1.

The agency added that a total of 3,580,510 blood samples have been tested since the pandemic began across the country.

Meanwhile, South African scientists have found that omicron is associated with a “substantial ability” to re-infect people who already had COVID-19, compared with past variants of the virus.

The study, published by the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, has not yet been peer-reviewed.