313 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by the NCDC on Sunday as follows; 148-Lagos, 36-FCT, 27-Rivers, 19-Edo, 13-Kano, 12-Ogun, 11-Ebonyi, 8-Nasarawa, 8-Delta, 7-Oyo, 6- Plateau, 5-Kaduna, 4-Kwara, 3-Akwa Ibom, 3-Bayelsa, 2-Niger, and 1-Anambra,
This brings the total confirmed cases in the country to 7,839, out of which 2,263 recoveries have been recorded with 226 deaths as at 24 May 2020.
Total of 44,438 samples have been tested for covid-19 since the outbreak began.
The confirmed cases in Edo state have surpassed that of Kaduna state, thus making it the tenth state with largest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Ten states with the highest number of confirmed cases in Nigeria are;
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 80% of Covid-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic. Those who do not show symptoms are called asymptomatic patients. These group of people are carriers of the virus without knowing it. 15% have severe infection of Covid-19 and 5% require oxygen.
Asymptomatic patients do not exhibit symptoms, and do not require hospitalization, however they can transmit the virus to other people. This explains why the virus transmission is very fast.
There has not been any confirmed report of asymptomatic patients dying from the virus. Those who are most at risk with the virus are the elderly people above 65 years and those with underlying health conditions.
The risk increases as age increases. Although there have been reports of increased cases of stroke among young people in the U.S which might be related to Covid-19.
In Lagos sate, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga, confirmed on Saturday that 600 patients had been enlisted in the state for the planned chloroquine clinical trials.
“In summary, we will be looking at about 600 patients. The trial will go on till we recruit the required number. There will be an independent Data and Safety Board. The board can advise that study be discontinued if the statistical evidence of the usefulness of a drug is overwhelming and in which case it becomes unethical to withhold it from other groups” he said.
Read also; Trump says He is Taking Hydroxychloroquine; 216 New Cases Recorded in Nigeria
Lagos state is the epicentre of the outbreak in Nigeria. It has recorded 44.71 % of the total confirmed cases in Nigeria and 18.58% of the deaths.
In south Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a further easing of South Africa’s coronavirus lockdown from June 1, in a televised address on Sunday. This will enable the vast majority of the economy to return to full capacity.
Ramaphosa, said the cabinet had decided to move the country to “level three” of its five-level lockdown system after broad consultations. He described the move as a significant shift in approach to the pandemic.
“This will result in the opening up of the economy and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people while significantly expanding… our public health interventions,” he said.
Read; The Nigeria’s National Cake: How it is Shared
Under level three, the economy could return to full capacity, a curfew and restriction on outdoor exercise would be lifted and alcohol could be sold for home consumption, aside from a few exceptions where risk of transmission is high Ramaphosa said.
However, the schools will remain shut until September 2020, according to the Educators Union of South Africa.
In another development, the AngloGold Ashanti mine in South Africa, will remain closed until further notice after 53 workers tested positive for Covid-19. This was announced in a statement by the provincial health department on Sunday.
The mine, which is the deepest in the world, restarted operations on April 22 after closing entirely during a nationwide lockdown, and was operating at 50% capacity.
South Africa is the worst affected country in Africa. The country has recorded 22,583 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 11,100 recoveries and 429 deaths.
In Zambia, the Information Minister Dora Siliya have tested Positive for Covid-19. She said in a tweet that she was asymptomatic and had gone into self-isolation.
Zambia has recorded 920 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 336 recoveries and 7 deaths.
The confirmed cases in Africa have risen to 108,109 with 42,973 recoveries and 3,260 deaths recorded in the continent according to Africa Center for Disease Control and prevention.
Read; Nigeria Headed for a Deeper Recession, to Shrink by 8.9%: Finance Minister
In Brazil, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. Brazil has passed Russia to become the country with the second largest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world behind the U.S.
The country now has 363,211 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 149,911 recoveries and 22,666 deaths.
On Sunday, The U.S imposed travel restrictions on foreign nationals who have been to Brazil in the last 14 days. The restriction will not affect trade between the two countries.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement, “today’s action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country,”
The suspension is to take effect on May 28 at 23:59 EDT (03:59 GMT).
The travel ban will not apply to U.S citizens, or to the spouse, parent, legal guardian, or child of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, and most siblings under the age of 21.
The U.S remains the worst affected country in the world. It has recorded 1,641,585 cases with 366,736 recoveries and 97,686 deaths.
The confirmed cases in the U.S is more than the total number of confirmed cases in Brazil, Russia, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and France combined together.
The cases in these countries are: Brazil – 363,211, Russia – 344,481, United Kingdom – 260,916, Spain – 235,772, Italy – 229,858 and France – 182,709. The combined total number of cases of these countries are 1,616,947 which is less than the confirmed cases in the U.S.
In India, domestic flights will resume on Monday after being grounded for almost two months due to the Covid-19 lockdown. the flights resumption comes with various restrictions in terms of baggage, arrival time, security check requirements, transport to airport and check-in facilities.
Thermal screening for all passengers has been made compulsory by the government. Everyone would download the Aarogya Setu app, which will inform the authorities whether the person is coming from a highly infected zone.
The government also issued a price cap and a floor to keep the fares under control to avoid hiking of the ticket prices.
India has recorded 138,536 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 57,692 recoveries and 4,024 deaths.
Globally, 5,383,582 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed. Out of which 2,165,782 have recovered with 344,760 deaths recorded according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
These figures put the global recovery rate at 40.23% and death rate at 6.4%.
Written by
Ifunanya Ikueze
Do you have questions about Coronavirus? email us at info@investogist.com and we will get back to you with answer.
