Akwa Ibom state has joined the league of states with confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria after five patients tested Positive for the virus in the state.
This comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 23 new cases in Lagos, Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Bauchi on Wednesday taking the tally to 174 in the country.
As at 08:00 pm 1st April, The breakdown of the 23 new cases of #COVID19 pandemic across the country are as follows 9 in Lagos, 7 in Abuja, 5 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Kaduna and 1 in Bauchi.
Meanwhile, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 in the country, on Wednesday in Abuja also said that its primary strategy is to work with affected states in the identification of cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak in the country.
Ihekweazu said that working with affected states on contacts tracing would be prompt for isolation and treatment as required of Nigerians affected by the virus.
“We are utilising a SORMAS open software for real-time collection and analysis of data on COVID-19,” he said.
The NCDC DG noted that while the restrictions put physical distance between Nigerians, they should still remain socially connected to each other.
He noted that the success does not depend only on the presidential order, but ultimately on how Nigerians #TakeResponsibility# individually and collectively to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“It is a time to ‘Take Responsibility’ and prevent further transmission of the virus. “Do what you can to keep yourself and everyone around you safe, especially those who may be more susceptible to infection,” he stressed.
He again stressed that the laboratories in the country currently accredited for COVID-19 testing in Nigeria would be expanded.
“NCDC will work with your state to transport the sample from point of collection to the nearest laboratory.
“Alternative measures will be taken as necessary,” he added.
