Second Wave: Travels, School Reopening Caused COVID-19 Surge

Sodiq Oyeleke

The Presidential Task Force on COVID - 19 has said travels, reopening of schools , businesses and religious centres contributed to the rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria . 

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , made this known on Monday during a media briefing in Abuja .

He said, “ It is however very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rise in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities , reopening of schools without strict compliance with COIVID -19 safety measures .

“ The full import of the fore- going is to press further on the need for us all to elevate the level of our vigilance and compliance with the recommended non -pharmaceutical interventions .”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said that confirmed cases of coronavirus have risen to 100 ,087 in the country . 

This is coming 45 weeks after the country recorded its first COVID -19 case on February 27 , 2020 , according to data available on NCDC ’s website on Monday , January 11 .

The agency also said that out of the total 100 ,087 COVID - 19 cases , 80 ,030 patients have been discharged while 1 ,358 are dead .

The data also showed that there are 18 ,699 active cases in Nigeria , with Lagos and FCT having 6 , 858 and 5 ,563 respectively.

Data from the NCDC ’s website also revealed that the country recorded 1 ,024 new cases in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory on January 10 , 2020 .

The NCDC said, “ On the 10 th of January 2021 , 1024 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigeria .

“ Till date, 100087 cases have been confirmed , 80030 cases have been discharged and 1358 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory .

“ The 1024 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos ( 653 ) , Plateau ( 63 ) , Benue ( 48 ) , Zamfara ( 45 ) , FCT ( 42 ) , Rivers ( 27 ) , Ondo ( 26 ) , Adamawa ( 26 ) , Kaduna ( 22 ) , Edo ( 18 ) , Ogun ( 16 ) , Imo ( 12 ) , Kano ( 9 ) , Yobe ( 6 ) , Ekiti ( 5 ) , Jigawa ( 4 ) and Osun ( 2 ) .

“ A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre, activated at Level 3 , continues to coordinate the national response activities .”

https://punchng.com/second-wave-travels-school-reopening-caused-covid-19-surge-ptf/