The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed five fresh cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
They are three in Bauchi State, and two in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 214.
NCDC, through its verified Twitter account on Saturday, said that as at 10:10 pm, April 4, there were 214 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria, out of which 25 had been discharged.
The NCDC, however, said four deaths had been recorded.
According to the centre, there are 109 cases in Lagos State, 43 in FCT, 20 in Osun, Akwa Ibom five, Oyo nine, Edo seven, Kaduna and Ogun States, four each, Bauchi six, Enugu and Ekiti States two each, while Rivers and Benue have one each.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC, said that there were indications of sustained community transmission, because 30 per cent of the cases had incomplete epidemiological information.
Ihekweazu, however, stated that while 51 per cent were imported cases, 19 per cent were contacts of known cases.
According to him, the NCDC is using the little window of opportunity it has left to intensify investigations into identified cases and their sources.
“This is one of the purposes for which the lock-down of two states and the FCT was proclaimed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“These areas, especially Lagos as primary epicentre, as well as other parts of the Federation, need to speed up their activities to detect and isolate COVID-19 patients.
“During and following the lock-down, we expect to see an increase in cases as a measure of improvement in case finding,” he explained.
The NCDC DG, however, expressed optimism that if social distancing and other measures were adhered to, infections would be controlled.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kaduna State command, has confirmed the death of four inmates.
The death occurred during an attempted jailbreak at the Kaduna Custodial Centre on March 31.
The Controller, Kaduna command, Mr Sanusi Danmusa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The attempted jailbreak occurred when some inmates demanded their release over fears of contracting the coronavirus in the cell.
“The attention of the NCoS, Kaduna State command, has been drawn to some malicious publications by a section of the media in respect of the attempted jail-break.
“This attempted jailbreak was carried out by a section of the condemned convict cell in the custodial centre.
“This press release is necessary to assure the public that the command and indeed the Service are not trying to hide any fact as purported by a section of the press, especially when life is involved.
“Four inmates later died in the hospital from the injuries sustained during the chaos that ensued, while being restrained by the custodial officers from breaking jail.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all the deceased inmates were from the condemned section of the Custodial Centre where the jail-break occurred,” he said.
Danmusa, however, said that a comprehensive investigation has commenced on the directive of the Controller General, NCoS, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed.
In Abuja, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has explained the circumstances of the reported COVID-19 infected individual at an apartment in the NNPC Estate in the Garki Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT.
NNPC, in a statement by Dr. Kennie Obateru, Group General Manager,
Group Public Affairs Division, dismissed insinuation of mass outbreak of Coronavirus infection in the facility, saying the National Oil Company was aware of all the actions taken by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to tackle the singular case, which for now, has remained an isolated incident.
The corporation explained that the said case, involving a non-member of staff of the corporation, had to do with the individual who had just returned from the United Kingdom and developed symptoms of the decease.
His case was said to have been confirmed positive by the NCDC after undergoing a laboratory test and in line with NCDC approved protocol, all residents of the affected apartment were moved out and placed in Isolation, while officials of NCDC undertook a disinfection of the flat and adjoining areas to eliminate the chances of community infection.
The NNPC said it had long embarked on public awareness campaigns within NNPC and beyond her borders including sharing with the residents of the Estate guidelines on successful self-supervised isolation to ensure strict adherence to all NCDC prescribed safety measures designed to tackle the COVID-19 global pandemic.
