Nigeria records over 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-30 19:52:19|Editor: yhy
Video PlayerClose

ABUJA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has recorded over 100 COVID-19 cases across 12 states, with the country's center for disease control reporting a total of 111 confirmed cases.

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that 14 new cases of the COVID-19 pandemic were recorded in the commercial hub, Lagos and the capital, Abuja.

While Lagos recorded nine new cases, Abuja reported five confirmed cases. The cases were confirmed Sunday night, according to the NCDC.

From all indications, Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria still has the highest number of cases in the country. With the rise in the number of the confirmed cases so far, Lagos currently has a total of 68 confirmed cases, while Abuja has reported 21.

Ten other states in Nigeria have also reported confirmed cases of the COVID-19. Among them are three northern states.

Most of the cases were reported from travelers who recently just returned to the country. Other cases were from people who have come in contact with infected people, according to the NCDC.

Following this development, the Nigerian government had imposed measures to fight against the outbreak, including a tighter lockdown that closed all borders and banned all incoming and outgoing flights in the country. Domestic flights have also been suspended in the country, as well as interstate and intercity road transport and rail services.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the director-general of the NCDC, told reporters in Abuja that the disease control center was working hard to expand its testing capacity for COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

According to Ihekweazu, there are six molecular functional laboratories in the country with the capacity to test for the pandemic and the Lassa fever outbreak.

"We aim to scale up to 13 laboratories in the next three weeks," the official said, noting the laboratories would assist other response activities, thereby reducing the number of deaths.

The laboratories would also provide diagnostic support for a number of states in the country and this, he said, would be critical to reducing turnaround time between identifying a suspected case and confirmation.

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001389317651