- Asks NCDC To Implement 450 Tests Per LGA Plan
From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
The Federal Government on Monday reiterated the need for strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols among her citizens to reduce the potency of Covid -19 second wave in the country as schools reopened Monday.
The Presidential Task Force on Covid -19 in its daily briefing in Abuja warned Nigerians against carefree attitudes as the country awaits vaccine which will help curtail the spread of the virus.
The Chairman, Presidential Task Force, Boss Mustapha in his words said, “I wish to note particularly, however, that in week two of 2021 the statistics revealed the following: “Cases: 10,300. Deaths: 77 and, Active Cases: 19,635.”
“All these numbers represented increases compared with the numbers from week one, 2021” He said.
Recall that The New Diplomat had on Monday, 18 January reported that the second wave of the pandemic is upon Nigeria with the 53 deaths recorded between January 14-17, 2020 which was the highest since the outbreak of Covid-19.
Generally, Nigeria has recorded 110, 387 cases since the pandemic began in the country. While there are currently 22, 156 Active Cases, about 89, 317 persons have been treated and discharged. Also, while total case fatality stands at 1, 435, about 1, 172, 234 tests have been conducted so far.
Notably, Mustapha affirmed that South Africa and Nigeria have continued to report highest daily count, adding that South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya account for 76% of all cases in the region.
“Nigeria has moved up to the third position in highest cumulative caseload but remains 2nd for new cases and 5th highest in cumulative deaths on the WHO African region” he said
He further added that, “the PTF has also authorized the NCDC to immediately implement the 450 tests per LGA plan, nationwide, immediately. We are aware that States are not on the same pedestal in the area of testing and we shall begin with States that are at the forefront of resourcing and infrastructure”.
“Let me remind you that the pandemic is raging and all tiers of Government and citizens must keep their hands-on-deck. We are in a difficult situation in which a balance must continue to be struck between lives and livelihood. We are considering all options while hoping that broad cooperation will be received. We must do everything possible to avoid the second lockdown in Nigeria.” Mustapha said.
“Finally, the PTF is proceeding with the next phase of the approved Presidential sanction against all in-bound international travellers that failed to undergo the day-7 post-arrival test. The PTF will publish the next list of 100 defaulters very soon”, he stated.
Similarly, The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who commented on state of the compliance to Covid-19 protocol as schools reopened emphasised that the Federal Government had reservations about the resumption of schools on January 18.
It also added that it never actually agreed with states that schools should resume on January 18.
Adamu stated that, while the states wanted to go ahead with the January 18th schools resumption date, the Federal Government was against it but had to reach a compromise since it does not control all the schools.
He further affirmed that, “We sat down, looked at the figures and we took the decision that schools should not open. Unfortunately, we have to state this because it is supposed to be a collective decision, but you must understand that the schools we are talking about, the Federal Government has only about 100 out of thousands of schools.”
“The schools are under the jurisdiction of states and just as the PTF was unanimous in saying that schools should not open, states were unanimous that schools should open. So, we have to compromise and as PTF we shall monitor what is happening on a daily basis. There could be some review again” he said.
The government reiterates that the vaccines will not be enough to curtail the spread of the pandemic and has urged Nigerians to strictly adhere to guides given by all non-pharmaceutical interventions in order to eliminate the virus.
