COVID-19 Cases Rise By 630% In 10 Days As FG Warns Nigerians

COVID-19 cases rise by 630% in 10 days as FG warns Nigerians on Thursday to take responsibility for their health.

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that Dr. Olorunmimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Health, stated in an interview with one of our correspondents that, among other measures, Nigerians must take responsibility for combating coronavirus.

Mamora made the statement as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the country, with 5,398 infections recorded between December 6 and 15.

Only 739 cases were recorded between November 26 and December 5, indicating a 630.45 percent increase within 10 days, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Thursday.

When asked what the Federal Government would do in light of the increase in cases, Mamora stated that the government would strengthen existing measures.

He said, “It’s essential to strengthen the existing measures through advocacy, awareness creation, education, and emphasis on the need for people to take responsibility for their health.”

The PUNCH reported on Thursday that 107 inbound passengers to Nigeria tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous week.

The country recorded 749 cases of COVID-19 between November 25 and December 4, according to the report.

Between December 5 and December 14, there were 4,029 cases recorded, representing a 437.92% increase over the previous 10 days.

In response to the rising number of cases, Dr. Abiodun Kuti, President of the Guild of Medical Directors, stated that they could be the result of people entering the country from Europe and the United States of America.

“The influx of Nigerians coming from Europe and America for the festive period will increase the spread of Omicron variant in the country,” Kuti said in an interview with one of our correspondents. These countries are already overexposed.”

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State government has stated that it will receive 350,000 COVID-19 booster doses from the Federal Government shortly.

Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, made the announcement on Thursday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi’s third Annual Research Day and Scientific Conference.

The conference theme for 2021 is “Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Developing Countries: Current Evidence and Future Direction.”

Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the Bauchi State Task Force on COVID-19’s Contact and Surveillance Sub-Committee, stated that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency would soon supply the state with booster doses.

He emphasized that the booster shots would only be administered to those who had received their first and second COVID-19 vaccine jabs, to further protect them against the Omicron variant.

 “Even if you are vaccinated, you can get infected with the mutant Omicron variant of COVID-19, but the good news is that people who were vaccinated will not get the severe form of the Omicron variant,” he said.

“The only way to prevent Omicron variant is to do the booster dose, and the federal government will send about 350,000 booster doses to Bauchi State next week.”

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, according to the Executive Chairman, is a major issue because even the most educated people, including healthcare workers, have yet to receive the vaccine.