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We may no longer be able to handle some COVID-19 cases, NCDC Boss Ihekweazu warns

“The virus is spreading fast, causing mild symptoms in some and severe illness/death in others,” he said.

• January 11, 2021
Chikwe Ihekweazu
Director General, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu [Photo credit: BBC]

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu on Monday warned Nigerians to take responsibility and adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols as the number of cases reported daily will soon overwhelm health facilities in the country. 

Mr. Ihekweazu in a series of tweets on Monday urged Nigerians to adhere to safety protocols to curb the spread of the virus. 

“We are reaching a critical level where our hospital capacity will no longer be able to cope with more serious COVID-19 cases and health workers will be forced to make tough decisions,” Mr. Ihekweazu said. “We need to protect our more vulnerable citizens.”

The Nigeria public health agency boss added that the number of coronavirus cases reported in the country has been on the rise in the last four weeks. 

“In the last 4 weeks, we‘ve recorded a spike in the number of new #COVID19 cases,” Mr. Ihekweazu said. “The virus is spreading fast, causing mild symptoms in some and severe illness/death in others.”

Mr. Ihekweazu’s warning comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported in Nigeria crossed the 100,000 mark on Sunday.  

Since Nigeria recorded its index case late February 2020, the number of cases reported has continued to increase, hitting 100,087. 
Over 80,000 persons have been treated and discharged, while 1,358 have died due to the pandemic. 

Globally the number of coronavirus cases reported on Sunday crossed 90million, while over 1.9million deaths have been recorded as a result of the pandemic. 

Countries like the UK and France have embarked on a second lockdown as the second wave of coronavirus continues to ravage the world.

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