THUR, APRIL 02 2020-theG&BJournal-‘’Two factors could explain the sudden surge in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases we’ve witnessed in the country so far. First is that more people are coming forward to be tested, and second, the government has upped their testing capacity,’’ according to medical experts.
Nigeria recorded 35 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday, making it the worst day so far in the devastating coronavirus crisis.
The increase takes the country’s total confirmed cases to 174. Nine more cases were recorded in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Another nine cases was recorded in Osun and seven in the Federal Capital Territory. 5 cases propped up in Akwa Ibom in the South South, one new case in Kaduna, Ekiti and Bauchi States respectively and 2 more in Edo state.
The death toll remains at two while nine individuals have been discharged. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), all the new cases have mild to moderate symptoms and are currently receiving care.
‘’The number of deaths is still very low. I suspect that there may be more but it also means that somehow, we are getting it right with management of the cases unlike abroad were as much as 800 people die in one day. It is not like that in Nigeria,’’ says Dr Sylvanus. O. Ebigwei, (MON) consultant and renowned dental surgeon.
‘’But there are a lot of hidden cases I suspect, and most people still don’t know where to go for testing, but I am sure that by the middle of this month, we may have some peak areas, such as Lagos,’’ he adds.
A virologist at a teaching hospital in Lagos told theG&BJournal that the lockdown has also helped health official focus on the hunt of the contact cases with deadly potential. The NCDC is currently on the hunt for over 6000 contact cases across the country.
‘’What the lockdown will help achieve is to easily locate these contact cases because their movement is restricted, they can be quickly traced and taken into isolation and they will not be able to transmit cross-border,’’ he said.
He suspects that pressure will begin to mount on the country’s health facilities soon, particularly in Lagos. The State is working towards it peak period to when the curve begins to flattens but it remains the worst hit city in the country so far. The FCT is the only area keeping pace with Lagos in terms of the number of confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, the virology laboratory of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki was activated yesterday for COVID-19 testing. This brings the number of COVID-19 testing labs in Nigeria to 7. The activation of the labs in Maiduguri, Kano, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Jos & Kaduna is progressing.
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