The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Nigeria increased by 603 on Saturday, while the number of deaths grew by 6 as to NCDC report.
As at Saturday 4 July, the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria stood at 28,167. Out of this number, 11,462 person have recovered with 634 deaths recorded.
The new cases were confirmed across 18 states and FCT as follows; Lagos-135, Edo-87, FCT-73, Rivers-67, Delta-62, Ogun-47, Kaduna-20, Plateau-19, Osun-17, Ondo-16, Enugu-15, Oyo-15, Borno-13, Niger-6, Nasarawa-4, Kebbi-3, Kano-2, Sokoto-1, and Abia-1.
Total of 148,188 samples have been tested for Covid-19 in Nigeria since the outbreak began according to NCDC
Hydroxychloroquine Controversy;
WHO has announced that it will discontinue Hydoxychloroquine trial just 3 days after a new study found that Coronavirus patients treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), as well as a combination of the malaria drug with an antibiotic, had higher survival rates more than those who were not treated with the drug.
The research team at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit saw a “significant reduction” in mortality rates with hospitalized patients between March 10 and May 2 who were treated with the drug compared to those who were not.
“In a large-scale retrospective analysis of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2, 2020 across the system’s six hospitals, the study found 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with hydroxychloroquine.”
According to the report, “none of the patients had documented serious heart abnormalities; however, patients were monitored for a heart condition routinely pointed to as a reason to avoid the drug as a treatment for COVID-19.”
“The results of this study demonstrate that in a strictly monitored protocol-driven in-hospital setting, treatment with hydroxychloroquine alone and hydroxychloroquine [and] azithromycin was associated with a significant reduction in mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19,” researchers wrote in the study published July 1 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Hydroxychloroquine has been a topic of controversy since President Trump touted its effectiveness as early as March. The president on Monday 18 May said he had been taking the drug.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a news release on Saturday 4 July, that it will discontinue its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination of HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir for patients in hospital with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.
The news release read in part, “WHO today accepted the recommendation from the Solidarity Trial’s International Steering Committee to discontinue the trial’s hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir arms. The Solidarity Trial was established by WHO to find an effective COVID-19 treatment for hospitalized patients.
“These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect.
“For each of the drugs, the interim results do not provide solid evidence of increased mortality” WHO said
The WHO had on 3 June announced that it will resume Hydroxychloroquine trial after the organization suspended the trial of the drug on 25 May 2020.
U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 15 June revoked the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that allowed for chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate to be used to treat certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The agency said that hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit on mortality or in speeding recovery.
The WHO reported a record increase in coronavirus infections globally on Saturday, to the tune of 212,326 in 24 hours.
Globally, there are 11,169,802 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 6,010,342 recoveries and 528,232 deaths.
Evacuation Update:
109 Evacuees from India arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja at 1940HRS via Air Peace, Flight B777-200 on Saturday 4th of July, 2020. This was disclosed by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on its official Twitter handle.
35 Evacuees disembarked in Abuja while 74 will proceeded to Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos
322 Evacuees arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Saturday from the USA through Ethiopian Airline ET 509.
Another 86 Evacuees arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja at 10 am local time via Air Sudan on Friday, 3 July, 2020.
172 Nigerians evacuated from Uganda, Kenya arrived Abuja on Thursday, 2 July.
According to the commission, all evacuees tested negative to Covid-19 before boarding the flights and have proceeded to self isolation according to the mandates from NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health.
In Ebonyi State, the state governor, Dave Umahi, has tested positive for Covid-19 according to the statement signed on Saturday by the governor.
Umahi, also confirmed that some of his aides have tested positive for the virus. He said that they are asymptomatic and are self-isolating.
Umahi directed his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, to take over the administration of the state. He also urged the state residents to follow the precautions advised by the health authorities in order to curtail the spread of the virus
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In Benue State, the wife of the state governor, Eunice Ortom, son, and some of her staffs have tested positive for Covid-19.
The state governor Sam Ortom, on Saturday disclosed that some high profile figures were among the 33 persons that recently tested positive for Covid-19 in the state.
They include Secretary to the State Government, Tony Ijohor; Head of Service, Veronica Onyeke; and the Chief of Staff, Terwase Orbunde and the deputy chairman of the state COVID-19 committee.
“We have thirty-three people who just tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, among them are, the Head of Service, SSG and my Chief of Staff also the deputy chairman of the state COVID-19 committee Ortom said.
“The disease is right in my house, my wife, son, some of our cooks, maids, and other personal staff tested positive for the disease.” The state has recorded 97 cases with 33 recoveries and 5 deaths.
In Osun State, lockdown has been announced for 4 local government areas with effect from Tuesday, 7 July on the order of the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The four LGAs are Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West, and Atakumosa East.
The lockdown information was contained in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode.
The statement read in parts, “As you are all aware, the Federal Government, a few days ago lifted the ban on interstate travel in the country. We have, therefore, lifted ours too.
“But our relaxation guidelines still subsist except for four local government areas, namely; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West, and Atakumosa East Local Government areas where we have now ordered a one-week lockdown, effective Tuesday, July 7
“The ban on political, public, religious, and any kind of gatherings under whatever guise remain in force, while worship centres must adhere strictly to government’s guidelines guiding their re-opening.
“For the four local government areas, all markets will remain shut, only neighbourhood markets and Pharmacies will be allowed to open.”
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In Abia state, the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has recovered from Covid-19, as his test result returned negative.
This was announced in a short statement by the State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu on Saturday morning.
The statement read “to God the glory of God, repeat COVID-19 test conducted by Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on samples submitted by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday, 2nd July, 2020, returned negative result on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.
“Governor Ikpeazu is therefore deemed free of the virus according to the extant guidelines of NCDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo will isolate for 14 days on the advice of doctors after a person in his close circle tested positive for coronavirus, Guardian reports.
“He has, as at today, tested negative, but has elected to take this measure out of the abundance of caution,” a government statement on Saturday said, adding that the president will continue to work during the period, in compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols
Ghana’s deputy trade and industry minister Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah resigned on Friday due to the violation of coronavirus self-isolation measures following his positive test for the virus.
Ghana has recorded 19,388 coronavirus cases, with 14,330 recoveries and 117 deaths. The country has the second highest number of confirmed cases in West Africa, after Nigeria.
In the U.S number of new infections has passed 50,000 for 2 consecutive days. The US reported a daily global record of more than 55,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday as infections rose in the vast majority of states.
Thursday’s tally topped the previous single-day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on 19 June.
However, on Friday a number lower than Thursday figure was recorded, although it is still above 50,000. The U.S recorded 52,104 new cases on Friday and 631 deaths.
Texas reported 8,258 new cases in the 24 hours to Saturday, the highest single-day surge since the pandemic started, taking overall infections in the state to 191,790. Meanwhile, confirmed infections in Florida increased by a record 11,458 on Saturday.
Th U.S has recorded total of 2,832,492 cases with 883561 recoveries and 129,646 deaths.
All the data in this report is according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center except otherwise stated.
Written by;
Ikueze Ifunanya
