Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases continue to rise amid Delta variant spread
Nigeria’s latest surge in coronavirus infections gathered pace on Wednesday, with new confirmed cases rising above 500 for the first time in four months following the more contagious Delta variant spread.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) figures on Thursday morning showed another 535 cases were reported on Wednesday.
The 535 is the highest daily number in 2021, now the biggest daily increase in the country since March 4, when 708 cases were registered.
After months of few recorded cases, the country’s infection rate has been on the rise in the past two weeks shortly after the discovery of the Delta variant, first identified in India, considered by scientists to be between 60 per cent and 80 per cent more transmissible than the previous dominant strain.
The NCDC reported 404 COVID-19 cases on July 27 as the highest daily record in four months.
The public health agency added that Lagos remained the country’s epicentre, recording the highest number of cases on Wednesday.
It further stated that the country’s epicentre of the virus recorded 219 out of the latest 535 COVID-19 cases, representing a decline from its previous high figures of 356, followed by Akwa Ibom with 142 new cases and Oyo with 47.
Rivers reported 17 cases, Jigawa and Edo 13 each; Ekiti and Bayelsa, 11 each, Ondo (10), Osun (nine), Plateau (eight), Ogun and Kaduna (seven each), Kano and the FCT (five each), while Gombe and Nasarawa reported four and three, respectively.
The agency recorded five additional COVID-19-related deaths on Wednesday, keeping the death toll at 2,139 in the country.
It said 49 people have recovered and were discharged from various isolation centres in the country on Wednesday.
The NCDC said the country’s active cases stood at over 4,000, and the country’s total infections rose to 172,263 as of July 28.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Focus on criminals, stop targeting journalists, CPJ tells Nigerian security agencies
She also pointed out harsh bail requirements imposed on journalists, describing Mr Ugagbe’s bail conditions as “utterly punitive.”
Education
Tinubu upgrades Nasarawa poly to university
Mr Onanuga said the approval followed a proposal by Senator Ahmed Aliyu, who represents the Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
Lagos
Lagos govt signs agreement to automate vehicle registration
Mr Osiyemi said the initiative would simplify and speed up vehicle registration by eliminating cumbersome processes.
States
Three rescued, one body recovered as building collapses in Kano
The PRO attributed the collapse to the use of poor and substandard building materials.
NationWide
FG calls for stronger African collaboration to combat illicit wealth, transnational corruption
Mr Fagbemi added that the recovery and transparent management of proceeds of crime remained a key pillar of the country’s anti-corruption policy.
Heading 2
FG reiterates commitment to ensuring safe return of Nigerians from South Africa
“The last evacuation flight, which is expected to bring home approximately 300 of our nationals, is expected to arrive in Nigeria next week,” Mr Ebienfa said.
