COVID-19: Nigeria Records 1,075 Cases In 7 Days After Increasing Testing Capacity

Nigeria has recorded a total of 1,075 Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the last 7 days, figures obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have shown.

The figure represents nearly half of the total number of COVID-19 cases (2,170) reported by the NCDC between February 27 when the country recorded its index case and May 1, 2020.

The number is indicative of the increased testing capacity of the NCDC, occasioned by the activation of more testing laboratories in parts of the country.

THE WHISTLER‘s analysis of NCDC’s daily COVID-19 situation reports of April 25 to May 1 showed that 6,157 samples were collected and tested in the last one week, against the total of 16,588 samples tested in over nine weeks.

The 2,170 total infections were recorded in 35 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with only Kogi and Cross River States yet to record any case of the virus.

Kano State had experienced a sharp increase in number of infections in the last one week, overtaking the FCT as the second worst-hit state after Lagos. The state had resumed testing after nearly two weeks of inactivity.

The NCDC attributed the increased confirmed cases in Kano to the, “Deployment of high-level technical and Rapid response surge teams,” who intensified support of the coordination in the intervention in the state.

Meanwhile, demographics released by the NCDC indicate that 66% of males were affected by the virus as against 44% of females who make up the total infections.

The reports also showed that the age group of 31-40 were mostly affected by the virus, accounting for about 24% of the total infections recorded in the country.

As of May 1, Nigeria had recorded a total of 68 COVID-19 deaths, which represent about 24% of the total infections.

The NCDC had been able to trace 9,237 (99%) out of 9,305 people marked for follow up across the country.

The country witnessed improved testing and management of the Coronavirus situation after recently increasing its testing laboratories to 17.

Some of the laboratories recently activated by the NCDC include one each in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Lagos and Ogun States.