ABUJA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos, has been the most-hit state by COVID-19 in the country, with over 100 cases reported since the onset of the pandemic here in late February.
The latest figure released by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday night showed that Lagos, where the country's index case was recorded on Feb. 27, now has a total of 109 cases.
Amid measures to curb the spread of the virus, the NCDC reported 11 new cases on Friday night in Lagos.
Nigeria has so far recorded a total of 210 cases of COVID-19 from 14 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Lagos, having the busiest isolation center in Nigeria, also recorded its first death on Friday, according to the NCDC.
This latest development was confirmed only a few hours after four cases, including a two-month-old baby girl, were discharged from an isolation center in the state.
A total of 25 patients have been discharged so far in Nigeria, with 24 of them from the isolation center in Lagos. The authorities in Lagos on Thursday announced the discharge of 11 victims, after having discharged some nine people earlier.
With the new figure of positive cases released by the NCDC, Lagos has 84 active cases of the COVID-19.
Akin Abayomi, the state's commissioner for health, said at a press conference on Friday that the authorities were tracing at least 2,450 contacts of infected persons within the state.
"The coronavirus cases that are being handled in Lagos are mild, except for two patients who had moderate to severe issues," Abayomi told reporters.
The Nigerian most populous city had been on lockdown since the beginning of the week after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the halting of all movements and activities in the capital, Abuja, and commercial hub of Lagos over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The lockdown is for an initial period of two weeks, taking effect from Monday. Buhari had said the decision was based on the advice of the federal ministry of health and the NCDC.
Buhari said the period will be used to contain, identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases, as well as ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other states.
"This order does not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in healthcare-related manufacturing and distribution," the president said.
Entities including petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies, and private security companies are also exempted.
"Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored," Buhari said. "Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted."
However, all seaports in Lagos have been operational in accordance with the guidelines the president earlier issued. Vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these ports to other parts of the country are also being screened thoroughly before departure by the Ports Health Authority.
