Nigeria’s coronavirus infections (COVID-19), on Monday, surpassed the 29,000 cases as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 575 new confirmed cases.
The NCDC said on its official twitter handle, late Monday that the total number of infections from the virus has risen to 29,286 in the country.
“Till date, 29,286 cases have been confirmed, 11,828 cases have been discharged and 654 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,’’ it tweeted.
The agency said that the 575 new cases were reported from 20 states- Lagos(123), FCT(100), Delta(58), Edo(52), Ogun(42), Katsina(24), Bayelsa(23), Rivers(22), Borno(19) and Plateau(18)
Others are Ondo(18), Oyo(17), Kwara(15), Osun(13), Enugu(9), Nasarawa (7), Abia(6), Cross River(5), Kaduna(3) and Ekiti(1).
Meanwhile, ahead of the Edo and Ondo states gubernatorial elections, NCDC has advised politicians to use media channels like radio, television and social media to campaign for votes.
The advice is contained in its newly published guidelines for elections.
The NCDC said the use of these channels, rather than the previous methods of canvassing for votes which involves mass gathering, would help check the spread of COVID-19 infections.
It also called for careful adherence to mass gathering guideline.
“We urge our politicians to take responsibility and lead by example.
“We ask you to please think of the lives of the electorates first.
“Your electorates, staying alive, is much more important than any vote you can win.
“The guideline is to support critically, Nigerians that will be going to vote.
“The virus thrives in mass gathering and there is a challenge that we have in the way we have conducted our elections before, during and post.
“In this guideline, we try and offer advice on how to do this safely,’’ it explained.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has announced nine fresh cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 381.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.
Obi stated that the ministry confirmed the nine new cases in the update by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
He added that the number of confirmed cases undergoing treatment was now 170, while 201 had been discharged.
“The number of cases on treatment, 170, number of cases discharged,201, and number of confirmed COVID-19 related deaths is 10,” he said.
He urged the public to adhere to all the NCDC precautionary measures to stay safe.
“If in spite your efforts, however, you develop symptoms or know anyone who may have developed symptoms, please call the following numbers; 08182555550 or 09022333833 or the NCDC number 080097000010,” he said.
The commissioner called on the public to be responsible, adding that ” COVID-19 is real. ”
In Osun State, 13 fresh cases were recorded, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the State of the Livingspring to 178.
Dr Rafiu Isamotu, Commissioner for Health, in a statement in Osogbo on Monday, said 21 patients were also discharged from isolation centre after they tested negative twice to the virus.
Isamotu said the new cases were from contacts of previous confirmed cases in the state.
The Commissioner appealed to residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the government against the spread of the virus.
Isamotu said with the new cases, the number of confirmed cases in the state had risen to 178 with 87 active cases.
“With the new confirmed cases, the number of active cases as at today, July 6, is 87.
” We have 178 confirmed cases, out of which the state has successfully treated and discharged 84 patients with seven deaths recorded,” Isamotu said.
