Audrey Lotechukwu
SAT, JULY 18 2020-theG&BJournal– Nigeria’s coronavirus cases continues to flare unrelentingly as confirmed new cases and fatalities reach new highs in the country.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Friday reported 600 new cases to bring the country’s total to 35,454 with fatalities now numbering 772 in total. A total of 2,896 confirmed cases were reported within five days- from 33,153 on Monday 13 July 2020 to 35,454 on Friday 17 July.
Lagos State again reported the highest one day total of 129 closely followed by the Federal Capital territory (FCT) reporting 118 new cases. Oyo, Kano, Benue and Enugu States reported 87, 55, 42 and 35 new cases respectively. Other States reporting new cases are Kwara-28, Imo-16, Ogun-13, Kaduna-12, Ondo-12, Delta-11, Edo-11, Plateau-8, Nasarawa-6, Ekiti-6, Niger-6, Borno-4, Abia-4 and Gombe-3
The top nine States have reported over 1000 cases in total with Lagos reporting 13, 226, Kaduna 1099, Ogun 1159, Kano-1386, Delta-1415, Rivers-1480, Edo-1885, Oyo-2076 and FCT-2879 confirmed cases.
Health officials announced within the week the development of localised research evidence to inform the prevention and control of the pandemic by a research consortium. The consortium was convened by the NCDC and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) and TET Fund. They also announced the successful Genomic sequencing done by Nigerian scientists to enable better understanding of COVID-19 spread in the country.
Elsewhere, scientists have reportedly identified six different types of the COVID-19, each based on ‘’cluster of symptoms’’ which they say will help monitor those most vulnerable to catching the disease.
The Cluster 1 is described as mainly upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as persistent cough, with muscle pain also present. This was the most common cluster of symptoms, affecting 462 of the 1,653 participants in the research.
Cluster 2 is also mainly upper respiratory tract symptoms, but results in a patient frequently either skipping meals or having fever.
Cluster 3 symptoms are gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea.
Cluster 4 is distinguished by early signs of severe fatigue, continuous chest pain and cough
Cluster 5 symptoms are confusion, skipped meals and severe fatigue
Cluster 6 symptoms are market by serious respiratory distress including stiff breath and chest pain, as well as confusion, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Data collated by King’s College London’s Covid Symptom app was used to predict which patients will require hospitalisation based on their early symptoms and give advance warning on patients requiring hospital care and respiratory support. The scientists say the average time to get to the hospital is 13 days.
Meanwhile, global coronavirus cases have passed 14 million with the addition of 237,743 new cases reported worldwide on Friday. In Africa, the Africa CDC data shows 54 countries reporting COVID-19 total cases of 665,522 with 14,434 deaths and 346,153.
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